Diarmuid Phelan SC acquitted of murder

The 56-year-old, an associate professor of law at Trinity College Dublin, was accused of murdering 35-year-old Keith Conlon on 24 February 2022.

Mr Conlon and two others were at the time allegedly engaged in badger baiting on land owned by Mr Phelan, the Central Criminal Court heard.

The jury unanimously found that Mr Phelan had acted in self-defence when the three men advanced towards him after he shot and killed one of the dogs involved.

His defence team included Seán Guerin SC and Michael Bowman SC, instructed by Arthur McLean LLP Solicitors.