The trial of a barrister accused of murdering a man on his farm has heard he told gardaí he was “a million miles away” from losing his temper when he fired the shots.

Diarmuid Phelan, who is also a Professor of Law at Trinity College Dublin, denies murdering Keith Conlon, claiming he was shot accidentally in an act of self defence.

On the day of the shooting in February 2022, Keith Conlon was one of three trespassers on Diarmuid Phelan’s farm in Tallaght.

After shooting their dog with a rifle, Mr Phelan claims he was chased through his land, and used a revolver to fire “warning shots” into the air out of fear for his life.

One of the shots hit Mr Conlon in the back of the head.

Gardai at the scene on Mr Phelan's farmland outside Tallaght in Dublin. 22/02/2022 Photograph: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

Diarmuid Phelan has denied murder, claiming he was acting in self-defence, and that Mr Conlon was accidentally shot.

Following his arrest, he told gardaí he shot the dog to protect his livestock.

When it was put to him that the dog was tied up, he said that wasn’t visible to him.

When it was put to him that Mr Conlon had done nothing to him, he said that wasn’t the reality of it; that he was petrified because they were coming to get him.

He refused to accept it was a case of, “shoot first and ask questions later".

When asked if he lost his temper, Mr Phelan said, “certainly, not… I was a million miles away from that mindset".

Split image: L, Diarmuid Phelan, R, Crime scene image from Diarmuid Phelan case.