The trial judge also told the jurors on Thursday that there was no issue if any of their member wished to return to work in the interim.

The judge in the case of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, who denies murdering a trespasser on his farm, has told the jury that they will be accommodated as they were now in week nine of a trial they were initially told would last six weeks

A murder trial jury must consider whether the State has proven it is not reasonably possible that law professor Diarmuid Phelan unintentionally hit a trespasser on his farm with a third shot from his revolver, the presiding judge has charged

In his closing address, Mr Sean Guerin SC submitted that a person can use reasonable force to defend themselves and doesn't have to "take the beating coming"

The killing of trespasser Keith Conlon was "a tragedy and a grievous waste of human life" but it did not happen because of any crime committed by barrister Diarmuid Phelan, his defence team argued on Tuesday

The accused man is a barrister, law lecturer and farmer who owns Hazelgrove, formerly a golf course in Tallaght

Diarmuid Phelan (56) has pleaded not guilty to murdering father-of-four Keith 'Bono' Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24th, 2022.

Diarmuid Phelan (56) has pleaded not guilty to murdering father-of-four Keith 'Bono' Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24th 2022.

Diarmuid Phelan (56) has pleaded not guilty to murdering father-of-four Keith 'Bono' Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24

Diarmuid Phelan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 24th, 2022. Photo: Collins

Mr Phelan (56) has pleaded not guilty to murdering father-of-four Keith Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on February 24th, 2022

The jury also heard on Tuesday afternoon that when Mr Phelan gave evidence in a 2017 case of trespassing and damage on his lands, people had made threats to kill him in the courtroom.

Earlier, the court heard that when Mr Phelan was arrested and placed in a patrol car, he asked gardaí whether he could wash his hands and if the injured man was a Traveller

Evidence has been given that leading barrister Diarmuid Phelan had shouted at two unarmed trespassers on his farm to "get back" before he fired three shots from his Smith & Wesson revolver.

Jurors in a law professor's murder trial have today held and pulled the trigger of the revolver with which he fatally shot an unarmed trespasser on his farmland in the back of his head

Diarmuid Phelan (56) has pleaded not guilty to murdering father-of-four Keith Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght

The murder trial jury was also told that father-of-four Keith Conlon was observed by gardaí in the vicinity of a halting site next to the accused's farm in Tallaght on two occasions in 2018.

The garda said when they arrived at Hazelgrove Farm at 1.18pm they were further updated by the control room that a person had been shot.

Mr Phelan is a barrister, law lecturer and farmer who owns Hazelgrove Farm, formerly a golf course in Tallaght.

Mr Phelan is a barrister, law lecturer and farmer who owns Hazelgrove Farm, formerly a golf course in Tallaght.

French agricultural worker Alexandra Fernandes also said she had seen a rainbow minutes before the shooting and had told her co-workers to make a wish.

Diarmuid Phelan (56), with an address at Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 24, 2022.

Diarmuid Phelan (56), with an address at Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 24th, 2022.

Hannah Felgner said that the two unarmed intruders on the farmland "didn't seem a danger to any people there"

Diarmuid Phelan (56), with an address at Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 24th, 2022.

Mr Phelan (56), with an address at Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, Dublin 24, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon (36) at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 24th, 2022.

Diarmuid Phelan said he reached for his Smith & Wesson revolver in his pocket and fired in the air over their heads but was "stunned when one man went down", the court heard.