A 53-year-old barrister has appeared in court charged with the murder of Keith Conlon last Tuesday afternoon.

Diarmuid Phelan, 53, a law lecturer and senior counsel, with an address at Kiltalown Lane was remanded in custody for a week by Judge Patricia McNamara.

Mr. Conlon was shot and seriously wounded on farmland at Hazel Grove near Tallaght.

The father of four died yesterday at Tallaght University Hospital.

Mr Conlon was with a group of local men at the time of the incident. A dog with the men was also shot dead.

Dressed in a black suit, white open-necked shirt, and wearing a face mask, Mr. Phelan did not speak during the brief hearing, but stood up and acknowledged the judge when she called his name.

Detective Garda Michael McGrath gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution.

He told the court that he arrested Mr. Phelan at 11.23 pm last night and when he was charged with the murder of Mr. Conlon he made no reply.

There was no application for bail as bail can only be granted at the High Court in a murder case.

His solicitor Eddie O’Connor said he was not making any application on behalf of Mr. Phelan at this time and Judge McNamara remarked there was no application for legal aid. The judge remanded Mr. Phelan in custody to appear again by video link at Cloverhill District Court next Friday.

News credit: RTE