A man shot dead at a law professor’s farm was found guilty of attacking a garda he kicked in the head 12 years ago, a murder trial jury has heard.

Sergeant Simon Whelan said Keith Conlon was 23 when he admitted the attack and was 36 when he was shot at Diarmuid Phelan’s farm in February 2022.

Sergeant Whelan was cross-examined on Wednesday, the 10th day of Mr Phelan, 56,’s trial. Mr Phelan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Conlon at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 24, 2022.

The jury heard that Mr Conlon was one of three men hunting foxes on the farm on February 22, 2022. The prosecution says exchanges with trespassers followed after Mr Phelan shot a dog belonging to the trespasser Kallum Coleman. Mr. Phelan then fired two shots into the air with his pistol; A third shot entered Mr Conlon’s body and he was pronounced dead two days later.

During cross-examination on Wednesday, Sergeant Whelan told Seán Guerin SC, for Mr Phelan, that he had been based in Tallaght for 12 years as of February 2022 and had known Mr Conlon “on and off”.

Asked about an incident on January 26, 2010, Sgt Whelan accepted that three Garda vehicles went to a location in Sandyford in response to a call about a suspected burglary and, following a chase, Mr Conlon was arrested by another garda.

He accepted that it was recorded that Mr Conlon had become extremely violent and was restrained by two security guards, that Mr Conlon had kicked a garda in the head, that he had to be restrained when he tried to jump out of a patrol car, and that he later pleaded guilty to robbery and assaulting police. Garda.

On reconsideration, Sergeant Whelan agreed with Róisín Lacey SC, for the DPP, that the assault took place 12 years before the incident at Mr Phelan’s farm and that Mr Conlon was 23 when he was convicted.

Det Garda Damian Reilly said he met Robin Duggan at the gates of Hazelgrove Farm on February 22, 2022. Mr Duggan was extremely upset and stated that his friend Bono (Keith Conlon) had been shot. Kallum Coleman was with Mr. Duggan.

When he asked both men if they would give evidence, they said they were too shocked and upset to do so at that stage, but that they would do so later.

When he later sat next to Mr Phelan in a patrol car on the way to Tallaght Garda station, Mr Phelan asked if he could wash his “very bloody” hands and also asked if the injured man was a Traveller.

Cross-examined by Michael Bowman SC, Det Garda Reilly said Robin Duggan told him he had concerns about making a statement in two or three days’ time, including that he would be seen as a “rat”. He accepted that Mr Duggan never made an explanation and refused to give his telephone number or the phone he was using at the time.

The hearing continues on Thursday.