The start of the trial of law professor and barrister Diarmuid Rossa Phelan for the murder of a man at a farm in Tallaght in Dublin almost three years ago has been delayed as two jurors were excused and needed to be replaced.
Mr Phelan, who is 56, is charged with murdering 36-year-old Keith Conlon at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane in Tallaght on 24 February 2022.
Before the trial could begin two jurors were excused due to their connections with the Tallaght area and two new jurors were sworn in.
The court also heard that two more jurors had relatives living in the Tallaght area.
Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford asked the jurors to reflect on whether they would still feel comfortable sitting on the jury, and if so, to provide the names and addresses of those relatives to the court so they could be circulated to the counsels for prosecution and defence.
These names and addresses were provided to the court.
Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC and prosecution counsel Róisín Lacey SC both told the court that they had no difficulty with the addresses provided.
Ms Justice Lankford told the jury that both counsels were happy for the two jurors to serve.
In court Mr Phelan was again asked to respond to a charge of murdering Mr Conlon.
"Not guilty," Mr Phelan replied.
The trial is due to hear the opening statement from counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions tomorrow.
