Ireland Stephen Silver convicted of capital murder of Garda in Roscommon
Detective Garda Colm Horkan, aged 49, was shot 11 times with his own official firearm by Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, Co Mayo, in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. A first trial at the Central Criminal Court in November 2022 ended in a hung jury, and a second trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns returned a guilty verdict in the week before 20 March 2023. Silver faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years for capital murder and is awaiting sentencing. In October 2026, the Horkan family called for a public inquiry after a RTÉ Investigates programme raised concerns about a faulty gun holster, and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he would meet the family to discuss the matter.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted15 Mar
3 reports - Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Detective Garda Colm Horkan, aged 49, was shot 11 times with his own official firearm by Stephen Silver in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.
- When
- Horkan signed out his firearm on the afternoon of 17 June 2020 and was shot dead with the same gun nine hours later.
- Weapon
- Silver used Horkan's own official firearm, shooting him 11 times until the gun ran out of ammunition.
- Charges
- Silver was charged with capital murder, knowing or being reckless as to whether Horkan was a member of An Garda Síochána acting in accordance with his duty.
- In court
- A first trial at the Central Criminal Court in November 2022 ended in a hung jury after just under nine hours of deliberation over three days.
- A second trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns resulted in a guilty verdict after a jury of seven men and five women deliberated for 8 hours and 39 minutes in the week before 20 March 2023.
- Sentence
- Silver faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years for capital murder and is awaiting sentencing.
- Investigation
- Protected disclosers stated that Horkan's gun holster was faulty and not fit for purpose, and a whistleblower raised alarm over Garda gun holsters.
- Other details
- The Horkan family called for a public inquiry in October 2026 following revelations in a RTÉ Investigates programme, and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he would meet the family to discuss the defective holster concerns.
- Silver, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, Co Mayo, expressed remorse and is housed in a separate unit at Mountjoy Prison, largely confined to his cell for up to 23 hours a day.
52 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe article reports a statement from the sister of murdered Garda Colm Horkan. (extra.ie)
- whatThe headline refers to the murder of Detective Colm Horkan. (extra.ie)
- whatDetective Garda Colm Horkan was slain. (extra.ie)
- whatDetective Garda Colm Horkan was shot dead in June 2020. (rte.ie)
- whatStephen Silver murdered Detective Horkan. (rte.ie)
- whatStephen Silver took the garda's gun from its holster before shooting him. (rte.ie)
- whatThe Horkan family called for a public inquiry. (rte.ie)
- whatProtected disclosers stated the holster was faulty and not fit for purpose. (rte.ie)
- whatThe family said revelations in a recent RTÉ Investigates programme heightened their concerns. (rte.ie)
- whatColm Horkan was aged 49 when he was murdered while on duty in 2020 (thejournal.ie)
- whatHorkan was shot several times with his own gun on 17 June 2020 in Castlerea, Co Roscommon (thejournal.ie)
- whatSteven Silver of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo was found guilty of Horkan's murder in 2023 (thejournal.ie)
- whatConcerns have been raised in the Dáil that Horkan had allegedly been issued with a defective holster (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe Horkan family is seeking a public inquiry into the circumstances of Horkan's death (thejournal.ie)
- whereHe was shot dead in Castlerea, Co Roscommon. (rte.ie)
- whenHorkan signed out his firearm on the afternoon of 17 June 2020 and was shot dead with the same gun nine hours later. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on 17 June 2020. (rte.ie)
- weaponSilver shot Garda Horkan 11 times with his own gun. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponStephen Silver used the detective's official firearm. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe headline says a whistleblower raised alarm over Garda gun holsters. (extra.ie)
- chargeSilver pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det Garda Horkan knowing or being reckless as to whether he was a member of An Garda Síochána acting in accordance with his duty. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeSilver pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeSilver pleaded not guilty to murder knowing or being reckless as to whether Horkan was a garda acting in accordance with his duty. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeSilver pleaded guilty to manslaughter. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeSilver pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on 17 June 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury of seven men and five women deliberated for 8 hours and 39 minutes before returning the verdict to Ms Justice Tara Burns. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe verdict was reached after two trials at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Burns thanked the jury and excused them from jury service for the rest of their lives. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtSilver was found guilty of capital murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in the week before 20 March 2023. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe case went through two trials at the Central Criminal Court before a guilty verdict was reached. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtIn November 2022, a jury deliberated over three days and could not resolve their disagreement, having been given the option of a majority verdict. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtSilver was found guilty of capital murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury of seven men and five women deliberated for 8 hours and 39 minutes before returning the verdict. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA previous jury in November 2022 was unable to reach a verdict after just under nine hours over three days. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Burns told the jury they were exempt from jury service for the rest of their lives. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceSilver faces the mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison for capital murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceSilver faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherSources say Silver has become calmer and expressed remorse for his actions. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherSilver is largely confined to his cell for up to 23 hours a day. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherSilver is only let out of his cell for meals and psychological assessment. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherSilver is awaiting sentencing after his conviction. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherSilver is a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, Co Mayo. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe main issue in the trial was Silver's state of mind at the time of the shooting. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherSilver said he kept shooting until the gun ran out of ammunition. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherSilver said he kept shooting until the gun finished and there was no ammunition left. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe sister says the best part of her died the night Garda Horkan was killed. (extra.ie)
- otherThe family of murdered Detective Colm Horkan is demanding answers from the Garda Commissioner. (extra.ie)
- otherThe family of Detective Garda Colm Horkan met with a whistleblower. (extra.ie)
- otherLabour's Alan Kelly welcomed the family's statement. (rte.ie)
- otherThe current Minister for Justice is Jim O'Callaghan. (rte.ie)
- otherHelen McEntee was the predecessor Minister for Justice. (rte.ie)
- otherGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he is meeting the Horkan family next month to discuss the matters (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 29 Oct2026Garda Commissioner to meet family of murdered Detective Garda Colm Horkan
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.'
victim, Colm Horkan, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkanconvicted, Steven Silver, male, named, irish (judged from name)Steven Silver - 15 Oct2026Family of murdered Garda Horkan call for public inquiry
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.
victim, Colm Horkan, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkanconvicted, Stephen Silver, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Silver - 22 Jun2025Family of slain Detective Garda Colm Horkan meet with whistleblower
Reports that the Horkan family met with a whistleblower. The body contains no details beyond the headline.
victim, Colm Horkan, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkan - 5 Feb2024Heartbroken Family Of Murdered Detective Colm Horkan Demand Answers From Garda Commissioner
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.
victim, Colm Horkan, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkan - 5 Nov2023Whistleblower Raised Alarm Over Garda Gun Holsters Detective Colm Horkan Murder
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.
victim, Colm Horkan, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkan - 19 Apr2023'Best Part Of Me Died That Night', Says Sister Of Murdered Garda Colm Horkan
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.
victim, Colm Horkan, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkan - 20 Mar2023Garda killer Stephen Silver 'full of remorse' in specialised unit of prison
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.
victim, Colm Horkan, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkanaccused, Stephen Silver, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Silver - 20 Mar2023Garda killer 'expressed remorse' as he's housed in separate Mountjoy unit
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.
victim, Colm Horkan, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkanconvicted, Stephen Silver, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Silver - 15 Mar2023Stephen Silver found guilty of capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan
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.
victim, Colm Horkan, male, irish (judged from name)Colm Horkanaccused, Stephen Silver, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Silver