Ireland Crime

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he will meet the Horkan family next month to discuss the defective holster concerns and the family's call for a public inquiry, saying it is 'probably not appropriate to discuss them publicly now.'

Family calls for independent public inquiry following RTÉ Investigates revelations about a faulty holster and the treatment of protected disclosers; Labour TD Alan Kelly welcomes the statement and says the Minister for Justice has questions to answer.

Reports on Silver's Court of Appeal hearing where his counsel argued the prosecution's psychiatric evidence contradicted the legal test for insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006; the court reserved judgment.

Appeal hearing at the Court of Appeal on 19 March 2026; Judges Edwards, McCarthy and Kennedy reserved judgment.

Reports an appeal hearing against the murder conviction of Stephen Silver, sentenced in April 2023 to life imprisonment with a minimum of 40 years. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment. Adds the grounds of appeal and trial background.

Reports that the Horkan family met with a whistleblower. The body contains no details beyond the headline.

The article adds only that the family is demanding answers from the Garda Commissioner. The body is search-widget template code with no case details.

The article body is website template code with no story text. The only substantive content is the headline, which links a whistleblower's alarm about Garda gun holsters to the Horkan murder. It adds no new facts about the case.

Reports that Silver will stay in Mountjoy, is held in a special psychiatric unit, and intends to appeal, and that the family wants him to serve the full sentence with no early release.

The article supplies only a headline, quoting the sister of Garda Colm Horkan. The page body is template code with no article text, so no location, court or investigation details can be taken from it.

Reports the sentencing: mandatory life sentence with a minimum of 40 years, parole eligibility after 30 years with remission, victim impact statements read in court, and the family's reaction.

Reports that Stephen Silver was sentenced to life for the murder of Garda Colm Horkan.

Reports the sentence: life imprisonment with a minimum of 40 years, passed at the Central Criminal Court on 19 April 2023, and the jury's guilty verdict on capital murder.

Reports that Silver intends to appeal his conviction, that he says he was deranged when the shooting happened, and that sentencing was due on 19 April 2023. Gives the incident as June 2020 without a exact date.

Reports on Silver's post-conviction conditions in Mountjoy Prison, details of the jury deliberation (8 hours 39 minutes), the previous hung jury in November 2022, and trial evidence including conflicting psychiatric testimony on Silver's mental state.

Reports on Silver's post-conviction detention in a separate Mountjoy unit, his expressed remorse, details of the two trials including the hung jury in November 2022, the jury's deliberation, and conflicting psychiatric expert evidence on his state of mind at the time of the shooting.

A close friend of the victim recalled listening to the 'horrific' evidence in the case.

Reports the jury's unanimous capital murder verdict, details of the trial including expert psychiatric evidence, the sentencing date of 19 April 2023, and the mandatory 40-year term reduced to 30 years by remission. Notes that a previous jury in November failed to agree, leading to a retrial.

Reports the capital murder conviction and the 40-year mandatory sentence (30 years to serve under a 2013 Supreme Court ruling). Provides extensive background on Horkan's life, career and the circumstances of the shooting, including tributes from his family, Garda Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, and Minister for Justice Simon Harris.

Reports the guilty verdict returned by the jury after 8 hours 39 minutes of deliberation; a previous jury in November 2022 had been unable to resolve its disagreement. Silver faces a minimum 40-year sentence and is to be sentenced on 19 April 2023.

Detailed account of Silver's second trial, including his mental health history (schizo affective disorder, bipolar disorder, ~17 psychiatric admissions), the events of 17 June 2020 (meeting an Australian woman, visiting James Coyne in Knockroe, stopping at Castlerea Garda Station), and the jury's guilty verdict on capital murder. Notes the first trial in 2022 ended in a hung jury.

Reports the jury verdict finding Silver guilty of capital murder after 8 hours 39 minutes of deliberation before Ms Justice Tara Burns. Details trial evidence including Silver's account of the struggle over the gun and conflicting psychiatric expert testimony on his mental state.

Reports the guilty verdict in the capital murder trial of Stephen Silver for the shooting of Garda Colm Horkan.

Reports the jury's unanimous guilty verdict delivered on 15 March 2023 after almost nine hours of deliberation, details of the trial evidence including competing psychiatric testimony, and reactions from both families and officials.

Reports the jury's third day of deliberations, the judge's directions on available verdicts, and the competing psychiatric expert evidence from Dr Brenda Wright (defence) and Professor Harry Kennedy (prosecution) on whether Silver was in a relapse of bipolar affective disorder at the time of the shooting.

Reports the start of jury deliberations, the judge's directions on available verdicts (capital murder, murder simpliciter, manslaughter by diminished responsibility or self-defence), the closing arguments from both sides, and the expert psychiatric evidence on Silver's bipolar affective disorder.

Defence closing address at Central Criminal Court arguing bipolar affective disorder relapse; Prof Kennedy and Dr Wright gave opposing psychiatric evidence; trial continues for Ms Justice Tara Burns' charge to the jury.

Defence closing address at the Central Criminal Court; McGinn SC argued the shooting was not rational and Silver was in a relapse of bipolar affective disorder; two expert psychiatrists gave conflicting evidence on whether mental illness played a part; trial continues with Ms Justice Tara Burns' charge to the jury.

Prosecution closing statement delivered; prosecution argues deliberate intent to murder and rejects diminished responsibility defence; trial continues with defence closing statement due Friday.

Prosecution closing statement delivered by Michael Delaney SC on 9 March 2023; defence closing statement due 10 March 2023 before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Prosecution closing statement delivered at the Central Criminal Court; prosecution argues the shooting was deliberate with intent to murder and that Silver's diminished responsibility defence should be rejected. Defence closing to follow the next day.

Reports expert psychiatric evidence given at the Central Criminal Court trial: Prof Kennedy (prosecution) found no positive evidence of a relapse at the time of the offence, while Dr Brenda Wright (defence) said Silver's illness impaired his thinking and judgement and contributed significantly to his actions. Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter.

Psychiatrist Professor Harry Kennedy testified that Silver's behaviour during interviews was explained by his personality, not mental illness; Silver carried out a purposeful sequence of actions showing capacity to form specific intent; Silver may have been in early stages of a relapse at the time of the shooting; trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Trial evidence from 6 March 2023: sister Marian Bruen's testimony about a phone call on 16 June 2020, and cross-examination of Dr Brenda Wright on Silver's mental state, medication history, and the 'Arda/Garda' fib told to Professor Kennedy.

Expert psychiatric evidence given at the Central Criminal Court trial describing Silver's mental state during interviews and at the time of the killing, including his history of bipolar disorder and 16 hospital admissions.

Psychiatric expert evidence given at the Central Criminal Court trial describing Silver's mental state during garda interviews, his history of bipolar disorder, and the psychiatrist's view that his condition impaired his thinking and judgment at the time of the killing.

Expert medical evidence from Dr Brenda Wright detailing Silver's account of the shooting, his mental health history (16 hospital admissions, bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia symptoms), and her opinion that his capacity was significantly impaired at the time of the shooting. Trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris issued an official statement noting the jury's verdict in the capital murder trial, paying tribute to Colm Horkan and his family (father Marty, mother Dolores, twin sister Colette) and acknowledging the professionalism of the Garda investigation team at Castlerea Garda Station.

Reports on defence psychiatric evidence given by Dr Brenda Wright at the trial, detailing Silver's history of bipolar affective disorder admissions from 2003 to 2007, his psychotic symptoms, and the psychiatrist's opinion that his capacity was significantly impaired at the time of the shooting. Trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Reports on 27 February 2023 trial evidence: forensic psychiatric testimony on Silver's mental state and civilian witness testimony on his long-standing mental health history.

Reports evidence given at trial by forensic psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright on Silver's mental capacity and history, and by civilian witness Kevin Scahill on Silver's mental health difficulties in the years before the shooting.

Details of cross-examination of Stephen Silver at his capital murder trial, including his mental health history (schizoaffective disorder, 16-17 hospital admissions), his denial of knowing Horkan was a garda, his account of the shooting as self-defence, and his history of relapses linked to stopping medication.

Silver gave full evidence of the shooting, the struggle for the gun, his mental state, and his belief that Horkan was an assailant. He also described his mental health history and a George Floyd reference made at his arrest. The trial is before Ms Justice Tara Burns with a jury of seven men and five women.

Trial testimony from Stephen Silver describing the shooting in detail, including his mental health history (schizoaffective disorder, 16-17 hospital admissions), the struggle with Horkan, and cross-examination on inconsistencies in his account. Trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.

Silver gave detailed evidence about his schizoaffective disorder, paranoid episodes on the day of the shooting (believing hotel guests were SAS and a woman was an MI6 spy), and his 16-17 hospital admissions. Defence counsel confirmed the main issue is his state of mind; he pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. A psychiatrist found no evidence of active mental illness at the time of assessment.

Trial update: jury viewed fifth interview footage; Silver's derogatory comments and agitation noted; Det Inspt Hanley's questioning about Silver's awareness of Horkan's status; Silver's one previous conviction (no insurance, Feb 2000) confirmed; Sgt O'Shea evidence on Horkan's firearms competence; witness Emma O'Farrell's statement read; prosecution case concluded.

Covers the jury viewing the fifth interview (19 June 2020) in which Silver made derogatory remarks about Horkan, the prosecution reading witness statements including Emma O'Farrell's account of the shooting, and the conclusion of the prosecution case before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Reports on Central Criminal Court trial proceedings: interview footage played to jury, Silver's behaviour during interviews, his response to witness James Coyne's statement, and the judge's direction that the main issue is Silver's state of mind.

Reports on trial testimony from Silver's garda interviews conducted on 18 June 2020, in which he claimed Horkan shot himself and was 'an idiot with a firearm'; Det Insp Hanley testified about the interview process including Silver pretending to be asleep and breaking a toilet seat; the jury viewed footage of both interviews.

Reports on the jury viewing footage of two garda interviews with Silver on 18 June 2020, in which he claimed Horkan shot himself, described the incident as self-defence, and said he was 'set up'. Also covers details of the interviews including Silver pretending to be asleep and breaking a toilet seat.

Reports testimony at the Central Criminal Court trial where the jury viewed footage of two garda interviews conducted on 18 June 2020, in which Silver made various contradictory statements about who fired the gun, claimed self-defence, and said he had been off his medication since September.

Trial evidence presented: video of Silver's first interview played to jury; Det Insp Brian Hanley testified about Silver submerging and striking his forearms in hot water; Silver described the struggle, the shooting, and his state of mind; prosecution counsel Michael Delaney SC read from the interview memo; trial before Ms Justice Burns with a jury of seven men and five women.

Reports on 15 February 2023 court proceedings where the jury viewed Silver's first interview video, heard evidence from Detective Inspector Brian Hanley about Silver submerging his arms in hot water during the interview, and heard Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey testify about his friendship with Garda Horkan. The trial continues before Ms Justice Burns.

Reports witness testimony from Seamus Horgan and Luke Mollahan about encountering Silver at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown on the morning of the killing, and evidence from retired Garda Sergeant Thomas O'Connor about a 2003 escort of Silver to Roscommon General Hospital by Garda Horkan.

Trial day 14 February 2023: witnesses Horgan and Mollahan described encountering Silver at Carlton Hotel, Tyrrelstown; forensic scientist Waldron and State Pathologist Mulligan detailed bullet wounds and cause of death; retired Sgt O'Connor recalled the 2003 escort to a psychiatric unit; Superintendent Sheridan confirmed Horkan's temporary detective role; defence formally admitted Silver caused an injury to Horkan's eye and temple with a gun blow.

Trial testimony from two civilian witnesses describing the shooting scene, forensic evidence of a palm print match, CCTV evidence, and defence counsel's opening remarks that the main issue is Silver's state of mind. A psychiatrist assessed Silver and found no evidence of active mental illness.

Trial evidence on Silver's mental health: psychiatric assessments by Dr Monteiro and Dr Kelly, his behaviour in custody, and his account of the shooting given to Sgt McGarry while on the phone to his mother.

Trial evidence from two doctors regarding Silver's mental state at the time of arrest and his psychiatric history. Silver told Dr Kelly he was bipolar, had given up medication, and that Covid destroyed everything. Dr Monteiro assessed Silver after arrest and found no evidence of active mental illness. Sergeant McGarry testified about Silver's phone call to his mother in which he described the shooting. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Trial evidence from civilian witnesses Marcos and Anna Silveira and Gardaí Enda Rowley, Enda Mulligan and David Walsh describing the scene and the accused's behaviour; defence confirms cause of death and responsibility are not in issue, with the main issue being the accused's state of mind; trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Trial evidence from Garda Aidan Fallon, Sgt Michael O'Hara, Sgt Bernard Kilroy, Garda Darragh O'Reilly, and civilian witnesses John Drury and Tony Harrison describing the scene of the shooting, Silver's behaviour at the scene and at Castlerea Garda Station, and the physical evidence found. Defence counsel confirmed the main issue is Silver's state of mind.

Trial evidence from Garda Helen Gillen (who performed CPR on Horkan and first identified the shooter as Silver) and eyewitness James Coyne (who was with Silver on the night and saw the arrest turn into a fight). The prosecution confirmed the cause of death and Silver's admission of shooting Horkan are not in dispute; the main issue is his state of mind.

Trial evidence describing Silver's behaviour on 17 June 2020: his angry rant at Castlerea Garda station, his visit to James Coyne's house at Knockroe, and his agitated conduct in the estate where he dared the armed squad to shoot him. Defence admitted the cause of death and Silver's responsibility, making his state of mind the main issue.

Reports the discharge of the 12-member jury in the Silver trial after one juror had difficulty serving, with a new jury expected to be sworn in on Wednesday afternoon.

The initial 12-person jury was discharged on 1 February 2023 after one juror had a difficulty serving; Ms Justice Tara Burns decided it was not the best course to proceed with 11 jurors, and a new jury was to be sworn in at 2.45pm the same day.

The 12-member jury (sworn in on Monday) was discharged by Ms Justice Tara Burns after one juror had a difficulty serving; both legal teams agreed proceeding with 11 was not the best course. A new jury was expected to be sworn in that afternoon.

Defence told the court that Garda Horkan tried to attack the accused.

Opening of the prosecution's case at trial; detailed account of the sequence of events on the day of the killing, Silver's background and mental health, the postmortem findings, and the defence of diminished responsibility based on bipolar disorder.

Reports the opening of the trial with full details of the prosecution's case, including the sequence of events on 17 June 2020, Silver's statements to gardaí referencing Black Lives Matter, the postmortem findings of eleven gunshots and catastrophic injuries, and the defence of diminished responsibility due to bipolar disorder.

Reports the swearing in of the jury at the Central Criminal Court, Silver's plea (not guilty to capital murder, guilty to manslaughter), the expected six-week duration, the defence of bipolar disorder and diminished responsibility, the presiding judge, and the legal teams.