logo
#

Latest news with #Tallaght

Acquitted law professor Diarmuid Phelan in legal fight with State over 'enormous' trial costs
Acquitted law professor Diarmuid Phelan in legal fight with State over 'enormous' trial costs

BreakingNews.ie

timean hour ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Acquitted law professor Diarmuid Phelan in legal fight with State over 'enormous' trial costs

The State appears to have suggested that even people of means should make legal aid applications, which a barrister for law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who was acquitted by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering a trespasser on his farm, has argued is "entirely contrary" to spirit of the scheme. A judge will give her ruling in September as to whether the State should pay the "enormous" legal costs for Mr Phelan following a trial that ended last January. Advertisement The costs issue was raised this evening on the last day of the Trinity term before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, who presided over the 10-week murder trial that ended on January 3rd last. Law lecturer Mr Phelan, who has assets valued in the millions, instructed two senior and two junior counsel at his trial and did not receive legal aid. He also called expert witnesses who gave evidence following the close of the prosecution case. Mr Phelan maintained from the outset that he had no intention of shooting the deceased Keith Conlon and had acted in self-defence when he fired three warning shots. The jurors unanimously agreed with the defence case following the trial that Mr Phelan was entitled to defend himself when he came under threat on his own land. Mr Phelan (56) went on trial in October 2024 after he pleaded not guilty to murdering father-of-four Keith 'Bono' Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on February 24, 2022. Advertisement Mr Conlon from Kiltalown Park in Tallaght, was seriously injured in the shooting incident on February 22 and died at Tallaght University Hospital two days later. The defendant is a barrister, law lecturer and farmer who owns Hazelgrove, formerly a golf course in Tallaght. It was the defence case that this was an unintended killing and what Mr Phelan had been trying to achieve in discharging the shots was not to strike Mr Conlon. Opening the application on Thursday evening, Sean Guerin SC, who was one of two senior counsel representing Mr Phelan at his trial, told Ms Justice Lankford that the starting point - and also expressly the most important consideration - in awarding costs was the verdict. Advertisement Counsel submitted that Mr Phelan was entitled to his costs and the onus was really on the prosecution to show why he shouldn't succeed in the application. He said there was no substantive reason as to why costs should not be awarded. Mr Guerin said one of the prosecution's submissions, which had previously been handed into the court, was that Mr Phelan had the option of applying for legal aid but had chosen not to do so. The lawyer said legal aid had been put in place because of the desperate injustice done to people who couldn't secure the means to defend themselves and to protect those of limited resources. The barrister said the State appeared to be suggesting that even people of resources or means should make a legal aid application, which he suggested was a complete misunderstanding of what the legal aid scheme was. "There is no suggestion of that in the authorities and is entirely contrary to the word and spirit of the statutory scheme of legal aid," he added. Mr Guerin went on to say that the personal financial consequences was that Mr Phelan had to bear "the enormous costs" of being on trial in the Central Criminal Court for nearly three months. "The court doesn't need to be told what those financial consequences are and how they weigh on anyone who has to meet their defence". Advertisement Opposing the application, John Byrne SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), argued there was no presumption in favour of costs and one cannot simply say they had been acquitted so were entitled to their costs. He said a more complex and nuanced enquiry was required by the trial judge. The barrister said an award of costs is a discretionary order and it was "too simplistic" to say an acquittal gives rise to a presumption in favour of costs being awarded. Ms Justice Lankford said she had not finalised her view in relation to awarding costs but asked both parties to articulate their views if she decided to award Mr Phelan his costs but confined it to legal aid costs. She noted there was quite a wide discretion in case law, where 50 per cent of costs had been awarded to applicants. Mr Guerin told the judge there was no warrant for doing so as those weren't the costs his client had incurred. He said legal aid was not a guide or a measure as to what are the appropriate costs in a case. "If the court concluded Mr Phelan is entitled to his costs, then the appropriate order is for the adjudication of those costs in the usual way". Advertisement Whereas, Mr Byrne said the discretion seemed to be very wide and awarding legal aid costs was not something the court couldn't do, provided it set out the basis for it. Ms Justice Lankford said she hoped to deliver the court's judgement as to whether Mr Phelan can recoup his legal costs from the State in the first week of September. Ireland Young man jailed for raping teenage girl and engag... Read More Mr Phelan's trial heard that Keith Conlon and others were trespassing on Mr Phelan's land at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane in Tallaght on February 24, 2022. Mr Phelan shot a dog belonging to one of the trespassers due to concerns the dog might go after his sheep. An angry confrontation followed in which Mr Phelan produced a handgun and fired three shots, the third of which struck Mr Conlon in the head and caused his death. Mr Phelan said he acted in self-defence and that the fatal shooting was accidental. The jury had rejected the State's case that when the third shot was fired by Mr Phelan, the gun was pointed in the direction of Mr Conlon, who was shot in the back of the head when it was argued he had turned away to leave. It was in those circumstances, the prosecution said, that Mr Phelan intended to either kill or cause serious injury to Mr Conlon. Instead, the jurors accepted Mr Phelan's position that he was acting in self-defence after two trespassers were "coming to fulfil the threats they had made" and that he was fearful and facing an "imminent attack" as the men closed in on him.

Rhasidat Adeleke admits to injury 'setbacks' ahead of World Championships
Rhasidat Adeleke admits to injury 'setbacks' ahead of World Championships

Irish Daily Mirror

time5 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Irish Daily Mirror

Rhasidat Adeleke admits to injury 'setbacks' ahead of World Championships

Rhasidat Adeleke has revealed that she is dealing with a "lingering" injury problem just six weeks out from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Adeleke, 22, has explained that the issue has forced her to miss out on this week's National Track and Field Championships at Morton Stadium. "Unfortunately, I won't be competing at the National championships this weekend," the Tallaght star posted on X (formerly Twitter). "I've attended nationals every year since 2021 and there's nothing like competing in-front of a home crowd. "An injury I had earlier this season has transcended into additional lingering setbacks so I'll be supporting from afar. I'll hopefully be back to get some Morton magic next year. I'm forever grateful for the all the support. Best of luck to everyone racing." Adeleke was a late withdrawal from the Diamond League event in Monaco recently and, after her name was not added to the entries list for the Nationals by last Sunday's deadline, Athletics Ireland confirmed on Wednesday that she was 'continuing to focus on recovery following recent race exertions'. The national body added that Adeleke was 'disappointed not to be defending her national 100m title this weekend'. Thousands of Irish athletics fans felt the same after creating an atmosphere that blew the 400m sensation when the championships were held at the end of June last year, just weeks before the Paris Olympics. While the timing added to the buzz around the event, the presence of Adeleke made it really special. The 400m specialist competed in the 100m and her victory over nearest challenger Sarah Lavin in a time of 11.13 completed a clean sweep of Irish sprint records at the age of 21. The big crowd roared her home and a Garda escort was required to guide her through the hordes of enthusiastic young supporters who wanted autographs and selfies with their hero. Adeleke later expressed her gratitude to the crowd. 'I love competing at home for nationals, it's so special,' she said. 'Seeing everyone out here is phenomenal, I don't remember there being a crowd like this at nationals so having them all cheer me on when they called my name at the start I was like, 'I want to put on a show and do something special.' 'That was the most special, not even the national record but everyone cheering my name. It's a visualisation of the support I have and it just goes so far because actually seeing them here, physically, and people travelled so far from different counties to come watch. I just really appreciate it.' So it won't be quite the same this weekend, although the presence of European Indoor 3000m champion Sarah Healy - competing in the 800m - adds heft to a star-studded line-up that also includes fellow Euro medallists Kate O'Connor and Mark English, plus fellow Olympians Lavin, Sharlene Mawdsley, Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Sophie O'Sullivan and Andrew Coscorcan. Athletics Ireland normally grants athletes dispensations to miss the Nationals for 'medical reasons and/or exceptional circumstances' and Adeleke has now explained her reason for doing so. It has been a mixed year for the Dubliner who has been working on her endurance levels after finishing fourth in the 400m at the Olympics and as part of the women's 4x400m relay team. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .

Rhasidat Adeleke's absence means X-factor will be missing from Nationals
Rhasidat Adeleke's absence means X-factor will be missing from Nationals

Irish Daily Mirror

time10 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Irish Daily Mirror

Rhasidat Adeleke's absence means X-factor will be missing from Nationals

The X-factor that Rhasidat Adeleke brings to the National Championships will sadly be missing from Morton Stadium in Santry this weekend. The 22-year-old, according to Athletics Ireland, 'continues to focus on recovery following recent race exertions' as she turns her full focus to the World Championships that will take place in Tokyo in September. Athletics Ireland added that Adeleke was 'disappointed not to be defending her national 100m title this weekend'. Thousands of fans will feel the same after creating an atmosphere that blew the Tallaght star away when the Nationals were held at the end of June last year, just weeks before the Paris Olympics. While the timing added to the buzz around the event, the presence of Adeleke made it really special. The 400m specialist competed in the 100m and her victory over nearest challenger Sarah Lavin in a time of 11.13 completed a clean sweep of Irish sprint records at the age of 21. The big crowd roared her home and a Garda escort was required to guide her through the hordes of enthusiastic young supporters who wanted autographs and selfies with their hero. Adeleke later expressed her gratitude to the crowd. 'I love competing at home for nationals, it's so special,' she said. 'Seeing everyone out here is phenomenal, I don't remember there being a crowd like this at nationals so having them all cheer me on when they called my name at the start I was like, 'I want to put on a show and do something special.' 'That was the most special, not even the national record but everyone cheering my name. It's a visualisation of the support I have and it just goes so far because actually seeing them here, physically, and people travelled so far from different counties to come watch. I just really appreciate it.' Rhasidat Adeleke waves to the crowd (Image: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane) So it won't be quite the same this weekend, although the presence of European Indoor 3000m champion Sarah Healy - competing in the 800m - adds heft to a star-studded line-up that also includes fellow Euro medallists Kate O'Connor and Mark English, plus fellow Olympians Lavin, Sharlene Mawdsley, Sophie Becker, Phil Healy, Sophie O'Sullivan and Andrew Coscorcan. Athletics Ireland normally grants athletes dispensations to miss the Nationals for 'medical reasons and/or exceptional circumstances'. It is not known if Adeleke is dealing with an illness or an injury and she was a late withdrawal from the Diamond League event in Monaco recently. But it has been a mixed year for the Dubliner who has been working on her endurance levels after finishing fourth in the 400m at the Olympics. Adeleke's team may well see this as the crucial time in her build-up to Tokyo and so skipping Santry this weekend will be worth it if it all comes together in just over a month's time in the Far East. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .

Rhasidat Adeleke is set to miss national track and field championships this weekend in Santry
Rhasidat Adeleke is set to miss national track and field championships this weekend in Santry

RTÉ News​

timea day ago

  • Sport
  • RTÉ News​

Rhasidat Adeleke is set to miss national track and field championships this weekend in Santry

Rhasidat Adeleke will miss this weekend's National Track and Field Championships in Santry. The Dublin sprinter "continues to focus on recovery following recent race exertions" according to Athletics Ireland, with full focus on the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo. Adeleke has recently raced in the Diamond League meetings in Oslo, where she was fourth in the 400m, and in London, where she was fourth in the 200m. The Tallaght athlete was also a late withdrawal from the 400m at the Diamond League in Monaco earlier this month. The 22-year-old's season's best of 50.42secs is outside the top 20 in Europe, and is a significant drop-off from the Irish record she set in last year's European final. Sharlene Mawdsley is set to face off against Olympic teammates Sophie Becker and Phil Healy while Sarah Healy and Sophie O'Sullivan headline the 800m. Sarah Lavin, Mark English, Israel Olatunde will all be involved across the weekend while the in-form Kate O'Connor and Nicola Tuthill will be in action in the field events. Athletes who skip the nationals generally need dispensation from Athletics Ireland, who only grant exemptions for "medical reasons and/or exceptional circumstances". Watch the National Athletics Championships on Saturday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

‘He kept saying, what wrong have I done? Why me?' An Indian man is left stripped and bloodied on an Irish street
‘He kept saying, what wrong have I done? Why me?' An Indian man is left stripped and bloodied on an Irish street

Irish Times

time6 days ago

  • Irish Times

‘He kept saying, what wrong have I done? Why me?' An Indian man is left stripped and bloodied on an Irish street

Late last Saturday night, news began to spread online that an Indian man had been attacked in the Dublin suburb of Tallaght . Shocking images of the victim dripping with blood and walking the streets in his bare legs quickly followed. The man, who is in his early 40s and has requested anonymity and privacy following the attack, had arrived in Ireland three weeks previously on a critical skills visa to begin a new job with a leading international tech company. He left his wife and 11-month-old baby behind in southern India with plans to apply for their visas to join him in Ireland later this year. 'He came with lots of excitement but now he is traumatised, he's lost all his confidence,' a resident in the building where the man lived told The Irish Times. READ MORE The resident, who is also from southern India and requested anonymity, visited the man following his release from hospital. The victim is subletting a room in an Indian family's apartment in the complex. [ Man violently assaulted and partially stripped by gang in Tallaght Opens in new window ] 'He has two big scars on his forehead, his nose is broke, his left eye is almost closed, his eyes are black. He's got very visual bruises on his legs and thighs; he was really badly harmed,' the resident said. Online speculation and commentary have left the victim reeling. 'When he saw the pictures [online], he started gasping for breath; that's really shaken him. He just wants to run away and hide from people. 'He kept saying: 'I came here to make a living and live in peace. I was just walking to my place of worship. What wrong have I done, why me?'' Earlier that Saturday evening, July 19th, the victim set off on foot to the Vinayaka Hindu temple in Kingswood, following a Google Maps route. While walking through Kilnamanagh, he was approached by a group of teenagers who started taunting him and asking why he was in Ireland. 'He's very softly spoken; he's a humble guy, not aggressive in any way, and I think he was just being nice,' said his friend. 'He tried explaining he'd been hired by a tech company to fill a skills gap here in Ireland. And then they hit him badly on the head. For 10 to 12 seconds he didn't know where he was and then he realised blood was oozing from his forehead.' The group stripped the man from the waist down and took his trousers, before dispersing and leaving him to wander in a dazed state through the residential area. 'He was trying to take cover and seek help; he was so ashamed. A couple of cars passed him and one man hurled abuse at him. There's a video of that.' Videos of the bloodied man were quickly shared online, alongside claims he had been acting inappropriately around children before the attack. Gardaí have confirmed there is absolutely no truth to these claims. These claims were amplified by prominent anti-immigration accounts, including that of David Atherton, a journalist with a conservative website. 'In Tallaght, a suburb of Dublin, a migrant was caught exposing himself to children. He is covered in blood after being taught some manners,' Atherton falsely claimed in a post to his 300,000 followers on X, accompanied by a video of the man. Local resident Jennifer Murray spotted the victim as she drove by and stopped to help him. She gave him a blanket and waited with him for an ambulance to arrive. Later that night, she was shocked to see claims spreading online that the man was acting inappropriately. Her video refuting the claims went viral, racking up more than 500,000 views, and helping to counter much of the misinformation spreading online. However, others directed abuse towards her and, in at least one case, threatened to harm her. 'I was so suddenly aware of how dangerous word of mouth is. It was like watching the internet live in front of me,' she told The Irish Times. 'That's what really spurred me to alert the local residents to the truth.' The vast majority of the responses to her video have been positive, she said. Gardaí are continuing to investigate the incident as a potential hate crime and have appealed for witnesses to come forward. Legislation introduced earlier this year mandates tougher sentences for crimes motivated by racism or other bigotry. Akhilesh Mishra, India's ambassador to Ireland, praised Murray and the 'large number of common Irish people have also shared their concern and sympathy for the innocent victim'. He said the incident has caused 'widespread outrage, fear and concern among the Indian community all over Ireland'. [ Indian family suffers torrent of racial abuse on Belfast to Dublin train Opens in new window ] Mishra said the embassy has visited the victim and is liaising with the Garda and other authorities, as well as the wider Indian community. In another incident last Saturday night, Vikram Jain, an Irish citizen who moved from India 20 years ago, discovered his tenant had also been attacked. The young man, who is studying for a master's degree at Dublin Business School, arrived back at Jain's home with a broken nose. The student was walking through Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght at about 6pm when, he said, he was approached by a group of teenagers. I've lived in this country for over 20 years and always praised Ireland as one of the safest nations in the world. But my views have totally changed over the past three years — Vikram Jain 'They started hurling verbal abuse at him and then they punched him in the face and all over his body,' Jain told The Irish Times. 'He was bleeding badly when two other men came to help and brought him to the Garda station.' The student was later treated for injuries in Tallaght Hospital and has returned for daily check-ups since the assault, according to his landlord. The student says he was walking through Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght at about 6pm last Saturday when he was attacked. Photograph: Google Street View Gardaí confirmed they had been notified of an alleged assault on the evening of July 19th, 2025 at Sean Walsh Park and said investigations were ongoing. 'He is now terrified, not just of going out but of speaking up about what happened,' said Jain, who spoke to The Irish Times on his behalf. 'He's still in huge pain, he's scared and not eating. 'I've lived in this country for over 20 years and always praised Ireland as one of the safest nations in the world. But my views have totally changed over the past three years. Many people, especially immigrants, are now living in fear.' Indian IT workers, doctors and nurses have started sharing experiences of similar attacks in community WhatsApp groups, said Jain. Some no longer let their teenage children out to socialise and others avoid using public transport. 'There is a growing misunderstanding among some members of the public – particularly youth – about who immigrants are. Indian nationals pay substantial taxes, work in critical sectors such as IT and healthcare, and support the very infrastructure that helps Ireland thrive.' There are 78,086 Indian nationals living in Ireland, according to the 2023 population estimates from administrative data sources, collected by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Census data, which is collected using different methodologies, shows 45,449 were living in the State in April 2022. More than a third of skilled employment permits awarded by Government to foreign nationals in 2024 went to Indians. Some 13,500 Indians secured work permits last year, compared to 4,553 Brazilians and 4,049 Filipino workers. Indian nurses make up a fifth of all registered nurses and midwives in the State, according to 2024 figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Nearly 18,500 Indian nurses and midwives are registered to work here alongside 54,000 Irish nurses, more than 7,000 Filipinos and more than 3,200 from the UK. I used to be comfortable going out alone but that incident took away my sense of safety. Even if my daughter asks me to take her to the park in the evening, I won't go without another adult — Jiby Palatty Jiby Palatty, who has worked as a nurse in a Dublin hospital for nearly two decades, contacted gardaí in mid-May after two teenage boys on an e-scooter threw a glass bottle that shattered on her leg while she was training in Lucan for the women's mini-marathon. Two months on from the incident, Gardaí visited her home this week to take a formal complaint. She described the injury to her leg as a 'surface wound, nothing major' but said the 'emotional trauma' ran deep. 'I've been here since 2006 and I suddenly felt like I wasn't welcomed. I felt embarrassed and alone,' she said. Indian nurses make up a fifth of all registered nurses and midwives in the State, nearly 18,500 Palatty quickly discovered she was not alone and that many of her Indian nursing colleagues suffered similar experiences. 'They never said anything because they felt shame and knew gardaí couldn't do anything because these are just kids,' she said. [ African, Brazilian communities 'lack trust' in gardaí, believe force takes 'lenient' attitude to racist attacks, report says Opens in new window ] 'I was so scared about running after that and it was only because I was training for the marathon that I found the courage to go back out with my husband. I used to be comfortable going out alone but that incident took away my sense of safety. Even if my daughter asks me to take her to the park in the evening, I won't go without another adult. 'There's been so many incidents in the park and I don't want to be that person in the wrong place at the wrong time. If I can, I will avoid it.' Fine Gael councillor for Donaghmede Supriya Singh said last Saturday's assault in Kilnamanagh 'wasn't random – it was hate'. 'There has been a noticeable increase in racially motivated attacks – not just on the Indian community, but on migrants more broadly,' she said. 'I hear from residents constantly that people are scared. This cannot become the new normal.' Data published by An Garda Síochána shows a 12 per cent increase in hate-related incidents reported in Ireland between 2022 and 2023, with most incidents linked to the victims' ethnicity or nationality. However, the force still warns that hate-related crime is underreported. [ Racism seen as permeating all aspects of Roma and Traveller lives in Ireland, European report finds Opens in new window ] The Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill needs 'clear definitions and real consequences' around hate speech, said Singh. Gardaí are also under-resourced and need the tools and training to identify, record and follow up on these crimes, she added. 'People who have made Ireland their home and contribute every day to its growth and success deserve our respect, not violence.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store