A man who died after being shot at a law professor’s farm was convicted 12 years earlier of assaulting a policewoman who he kicked in the head, a murder jury has heard.

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

Sgt Whelan was questioned on Wednesday, the 10th day of the trial of Mr Phelan, 56. Mr Phelan pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Conlon at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalow Lane, Tallaght, on February 24, 2022.

The jury heard that Mr Conlon was one of three offenders fox-hunting at the farm on February 22, 2022. The prosecution say that after Mr Phelan shot a dog belonging to an offender, Kallum Coleman, exchanges ensued with the offenders. Mr Phelan later fired two shots into the air with his revolver; a third shot entered Mr. Conlon’s body and he was pronounced dead two days later.

During cross-examination on Wednesday, Sgt Whelan told Seán Guerin SC that, for Mr Phelan, he was stationed in Tallaght for 12 years until February 2022 and had known Mr Conlon “on and on”.

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

He agreed that it was recorded that Mr Conlon became extremely violent and was restrained by two police officers, that Mr Conlon punched a police officer in the head, had to be restrained when he tried to jump out of a patrol car and later pleaded guilty to burglary and assault on him. Guard.

On re-examination Sgt Whelan agreed with Róisín Lacey SC, for the DPP, that the attack took place 12 years before the incident at Mr Phelan’s farm and 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 indicated that his friend Bono – Keith Conlon – had been shot. Kallum Coleman was with Mr. Duggan.

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

When he later sat down with Mr Phelan in a patrol car en route to Tallaght Garda Station, Mr Phelan asked if he was washing his hands, which were “very bloody”, and also asked if the injured man was a traveler.

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

The trial continues Thursday.