Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. At the Central Criminal Court, the jury heard a video recording of Mr Silver's first interview with gardaí at Castlerea station. In the interview, Mr Silver stated that Garda Horkan initiated a struggle after approaching him on the street, and that the officer went for his gun after losing the ensuing confrontation. Mr Silver told detectives he was certain he would have been killed had he not gained control of the firearm, which he said discharged during the struggle. He said he was "a law-abiding citizen" unaware of the garda's identity. The prosecution presented evidence from Detective Inspector Brian Hanley regarding observations made during the interview. Detective Sergeant Eric Godfrey, who trained with Garda Horkan at Garda College in 1994, gave emotional testimony. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. He has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. Prosecution witnesses testified that Silver engaged in ordinary conversation about sport, politics and work with hotel guests on the morning of the garda's death. Forensic and pathology evidence detailed extensive gunshot injuries sustained by the deceased officer. A retired garda sergeant stated that Garda Horkan had escorted Silver to a psychiatric unit following a family incident in 2003. A superintendent confirmed Garda Horkan was temporarily appointed as a detective aid and authorised to carry a firearm in plainclothes duties. The defence has acknowledged Silver's responsibility for the shooting. The trial continues before Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve.
At the Central Criminal Court, a witness testified that Stephen Silver (46), of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, appeared "looking crazy" following the fatal shooting of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on June 17, 2020. The garda was shot eleven times with his own firearm. Ms Makulova, a resident of Castlerea Main Street, told the jury she heard gunshots that she initially mistook for fireworks, and observed a man with a ponytail holding a gun standing beside an injured man on the road. A second witness, business owner Dermot Mulvihill, corroborated hearing explosions and described seeing the man discard an object with a metallic sound. Forensic evidence presented showed a palm print matching Mr Silver's on the gun. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The defence acknowledged the accused's responsibility for the shooting, with the central issue being his state of mind at the time. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of capital murder in connection with the death of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During proceedings, psychiatric evidence was presented regarding Mr Silver's mental state at the time of arrest. Dr William Monteiro told the court that Mr Silver refused psychiatric assessment but displayed no evidence of active mental illness when observed, appearing lucid and capable of engagement. Dr Greg Kelly, a general practitioner from Castlerea, testified that Mr Silver had disclosed his mental health declined during Covid restrictions and that he had been living in a shed. Dr Kelly noted Mr Silver's demeanour appeared inappropriate for his circumstances and that psychiatric care had diminished due to Covid-related service restrictions. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan. The trial heard that Garda Horkan was shot eleven times with his own firearm at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. Civilian witnesses gave evidence that after the shooting, Mr Silver repeatedly told gardaí: "If I hadn't killed him, he would have killed me." Garda witnesses testified that Mr Silver was agitated and aggressive in custody, and that he later spat at officers and urinated on the floor of his cell. During cross-examination, the defence counsel indicated that Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the incident remains the central issue in dispute. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Ciara Kelleher, 51, of Dublin 7, pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud investors in Custom House Capital Ltd. She told Gardaí that she was not part of the company's "inner circle" and had no role in buying shares or in any alleged conspiracy. Kelleher's duties were to support John Whyte, head of private clients, by checking valuation reports and sending them to clients. She said she had no knowledge of wrongdoing and that she had never suspected any criminal activity. Kelleher also described an incident in which Harry Cassidy, then CEO, shouted at her over a client funds transfer request. The trial, heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, continues before Judge Orla Crowe and a jury. The case involves alleged offences committed between October 2008 and July 2011.
At the Central Criminal Court, a garda has given evidence describing the fatal shooting of his colleague Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Stephen Silver, aged 46, from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. Garda Aidan Fallon testified that he witnessed the incident and found Garda Horkan shot eleven times with his own firearm. The court heard that Silver made comments and behaved disruptively as emergency procedures were performed. Multiple witnesses provided accounts of the struggle and subsequent gunshots on Main Street. Sergeant Michael O'Hara and other gardaí testified regarding Silver's statements and demeanour following his arrest. The defence has indicated that Silver's state of mind at the time remains the central issue in dispute. The trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a garda recounted attending to her colleague Garda Colm Horkan after he was fatally shot at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Garda Helen Gillen described witnessing two men grappling before one was shot multiple times with his own firearm. She performed CPR on Garda Horkan after realising he was the victim. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, Co Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The trial heard evidence from eyewitness James Coyne, who was with Silver that evening, describing how an interaction with Garda Horkan escalated into violence. Another witness, Paul McGarry, a local resident, testified to hearing gunshots and disturbances in the area. The defence has indicated that Silver's state of mind at the time remains the central issue, with responsibility for the shooting accepted. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.
The Central Criminal Court heard evidence on Thursday that Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old mechanic from Foxford in County Mayo, was shouting in a Castlerea street on the night Garda Colm Horkan was fatally shot, daring armed gardaí to confront him. Witness testimony established that Mr Silver had visited Castlerea Garda Station earlier that day to lodge an angry complaint about a garda raid on a neighbouring property. Several residents of Knockroe estate told the court they observed Mr Silver riding a motorbike recklessly around the area at approximately ten-thirty that evening, engaging in erratic behaviour including aggressive shouting. One witness stated she heard him challenge the armed squad to come down. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Horkan on June seventeenth, twenty twenty, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. His defence team has indicated that Mr Silver's state of mind at the material time remains the central issue in the trial before Ms Justice Tara Burns. The case continues.
A jury has been discharged in the trial of Stephen Silver at the Central Criminal Court following difficulty raised by one juror. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard in Foxford, Co Mayo, faces a charge of murdering Garda Colm Horkan, aged 49, at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to capital murder and guilty to manslaughter. The original jury of twelve was sworn in on Monday and the prosecution opened its case on Tuesday. However, when proceedings resumed on Wednesday morning, a juror indicated an inability to continue serving. Justice Tara Burns determined it inappropriate to proceed with eleven jurors and discharged the entire panel. Both prosecution and defence agreed this course was preferable. A fresh jury panel was expected to be sworn in later that day to commence the trial afresh.
At the Central Criminal Court, Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan on June 17, 2020, at Castlerea, County Roscommon. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution opening alleged that following an encounter on the main street in Castlerea, Mr Silver engaged in a struggle with the uniformed officer, seized his firearm, and discharged it multiple times, causing fatal injuries. The court heard that Mr Silver told gardai at the scene that the deceased had attempted to attack him. The defence intends to raise issues of bipolar disorder and diminished responsibility due to mental health difficulties. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns and a jury of twelve, is expected to last six weeks. The main disputed issue concerns Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the incident.
A jury of six men and six women has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a man charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Stephen Silver, aged 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, pleads not guilty to capital murder in relation to the death of Det Gda Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has entered a guilty plea to manslaughter. Justice Eileen Creedon advised the jury that proceedings are expected to extend over six weeks. The defence is expected to raise matters concerning bipolar disorder and diminished responsibility on grounds of mental health difficulties. The trial, led by Justice Tara Burns, commences tomorrow at 11am before the sworn jury.
A man serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of his infant son has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal, challenging the admissibility of postmortem evidence presented during his trial. John Tighe of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo was convicted in March 2018 of murdering his six-and-a-half-month-old son in June 2013. The defence argues the trial judge erred in admitting extracts from a postmortem report prepared by the former Deputy State Pathologist, who was unavailable to attend trial and be cross-examined. Instead, evidence was presented through an alternative pathologist via video link. The defence contends this breached fair trial principles by preventing meaningful challenge to the original findings. The State's counsel argued the subsequent expert was called based on independent medical recommendations and provided his own assessment of the evidence. The three-judge court reserved judgment. John Tighe pleaded not guilty.
Patrick McLoughlin, aged 35, of Torboy, Moydow, County Longford, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment, with the final eighteen months suspended, following his conviction for sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court in Castlebar, County Mayo. A jury found him guilty in March 2022 of sexually assaulting a woman in Galway city centre in August 2017. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed strict conditions on the suspension, including engagement with the Probation Service. The judge remarked during sentencing that young men must understand that refusal of consent is unambiguous, criticising what she described as a widespread lack of understanding of the word "no" in sexual offence cases. McLoughlin maintains his innocence despite the jury verdict. His associate, Karl Reilly, was separately convicted of rape and sentenced to seven years with eighteen months suspended. The victim provided a statement describing ongoing trauma from the incident. Patrick McLoughlin pleaded not guilty.
A man accused of murdering his wife at their Westport home in June 2019 will stand trial in March 2023 instead of December this year. James Kilroy, aged 48, of Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, faces a charge in connection with the death of Valerie French Kilroy, aged 41, a mother of three. The trial was originally scheduled to begin on 12 December at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin and was expected to last three to four days. At a hearing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott today, the trial date was postponed to 6 March 2023. The defence indicated the proceedings would now require two to three weeks.
A 33-year-old man who abducted his two-year-old daughter from a health centre in County Mayo last October has had sentencing adjourned pending trial on separate charges. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that both parents were heavily involved in substance abuse at the time of the abduction on October 12th. The man pleaded guilty to intentionally taking his daughter during a scheduled access visit. Following a nationwide Child Safety Alert, gardaí located the family at a Dublin hotel where the child was removed and the parents arrested. The court heard that weeks later the man attempted to abduct the child again from a house in County Mayo. He now faces trial in Castlebar Circuit Court next year on charges including assault, burglary and criminal damage. His co-parent, a UK national, pleaded guilty to abduction but failed to appear for sentencing and is now residing in London. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing until March 8th next.
The High Court has appointed an interim examiner to Blacklough Construction Limited following an application on grounds of cash-flow insolvency. The company, which has 48 employees and engages subcontractors, is currently constructing over 360 social housing units across five sites for Respond Housing Association, including developments in Charlestown, County Mayo, and locations in Dublin, Meath, Westmeath and Louth. An independent expert's report indicated the company has reasonable prospects of survival if certain steps are taken. Counsel attributed the firm's difficulties primarily to a 33 per cent rise in building material costs since 2020, alongside a potential planning permission issue at the Carrickmines site in Dublin. Trade creditors are owed over €3 million. Chartered accountant Joe Walsh was appointed as interim examiner by Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Thursday. The court was satisfied that creditors would fare better under an examinership than in liquidation. Proceedings were adjourned to later in the month, with creditors to be notified of the application.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has been unable to reach a verdict in the trial of Stephen Silver concerning the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver accepts that he discharged the detective's own firearm eleven times but denies the charge of murder. The defence argued that Mr Silver should be found guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, citing evidence that he was suffering from bipolar affective disorder at the time. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for just under nine hours over three days before reporting they could not reach agreement. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Mr Silver in custody pending a retrial, with the case listed for 9 December at the Central Criminal Court. The judge thanked the jury for their careful consideration of what he described as a deeply difficult and disturbing case. Stephen Silver was acquitted.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Silver, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has been instructed that majority verdicts are now permissible at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott informed the twelve-person jury, entering their third day of deliberations, that they may return a verdict supported by at least ten jurors rather than requiring unanimity. Silver is charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The jury must determine between verdicts of capital murder, murder, manslaughter, or manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Defence evidence suggested Silver suffered bipolar affective disorder at the time, whilst prosecution psychiatric evidence contradicted this assessment of his mental capacity. Detective Garda Horkan sustained eleven gunshot wounds. Deliberations are continuing.
The jury in the trial of Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, continued deliberations at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday. Mr Silver stands accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who suffered eleven gunshot wounds during an incident at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The jury must decide between verdicts of capital murder, murder, manslaughter, or manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Central to the case are conflicting expert psychiatric assessments regarding Mr Silver's mental state at the time of the shooting. Justice Paul McDermott instructed the jury to apply common sense in evaluating evidence from two consultant psychiatrists who disagreed on this issue. The panel of seven men and five women will resume deliberations on Thursday morning at eleven o'clock.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of Stephen Silver, aged 46, from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, who is charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The accused has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in relation to the incident at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. During the trial, the defence presented evidence from a psychiatrist who testified the accused was suffering from bipolar affective disorder at the time, which diminished his responsibility. The prosecution's psychiatric expert disputed this assessment, maintaining the accused's mental capacity remained intact. Mr Justice Paul McDermott charged the jury, comprising seven men and five women, on the available verdicts. The jury retired shortly before midday and was sent home in the evening. Deliberations are to resume Wednesday morning at 10.30am.
A former solicitor from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing over €200,000 from four client families. David Doyle, aged 68, pleaded guilty to nine charges of theft totalling €218,579 committed between December 2008 and November 2016. Judge Martin Nolan heard that Doyle had misappropriated funds through a method known as "teeming and lading," transferring money between accounts to conceal the offences whilst addressing his personal debts. The court noted that Doyle eventually self-reported the fraud to his senior partner in October 2017 after 38 years of practice. He was subsequently struck off the register by the Law Society. Judge Nolan acknowledged that Doyle had sold his family home to repay clients in full and expressed remorse for breaching the trust of his clients and profession. Doyle cooperated with gardaí following his arrest in December 2020 and has no previous convictions.
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott has instructed the jury in the trial of Stephen Silver to apply common sense when evaluating conflicting psychiatric evidence regarding the accused's mental state. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward in Foxford, County Mayo, denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The defence psychiatrist testified that Mr Silver suffered from bipolar affective disorder at the time of the shooting, whilst the prosecution's expert disagreed. The judge clarified that jurors are not bound by expert testimony and may prefer one account over another. He explained that if they find Mr Silver guilty of unlawful killing with the requisite intent, they must then determine whether his responsibility was substantially diminished by mental disorder. The judge emphasised this remains a question of fact for the jury to assess using common sense alongside all evidence presented. Stephen Silver pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel for Stephen Silver argued it would be unsafe to convict him of the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, citing evidence of mental disorder at the time of the shooting. Mr Silver, aged 46, from Aughaward near Foxford in County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility for the fatal shooting at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Defence barrister Roisin Lacey SC asked the jury to consider psychiatric evidence that Mr Silver was experiencing a relapse of bipolar affective disorder which substantially diminished his culpability. She referenced observations from gardaí interviews, recorded on the day following the incident, which documented deteriorating mental state including delusional beliefs and bizarre behaviour. Ms Lacey also highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence regarding the deceased garda's formal status. The trial continues with the judge's charge to the jury expected the following day.
At the Central Criminal Court, counsel for Stephen Silver, who denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, has questioned whether the prosecution has adequately proven the deceased was a member of An Garda Síochána. Roisin Lacey SC submitted to the jury that the prosecution must establish beyond reasonable doubt that Garda Horkan was acting in accordance with his duty. Ms Lacey highlighted discrepancies between the date Garda Horkan's identification card was issued and his attested date as a garda, and noted differences between identification numbers provided to the jury and those on his identity card. She acknowledged evidence from senior gardaí regarding Garda Horkan's duties and presence on the day in question but contended formal proof of his membership had not been presented. Ms Lacey also argued evidence that Mr Silver was experiencing a relapse of bipolar disorder substantially reduced his responsibility for the killing. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The prosecution closing speech, delivered by James Dwyer SC, contended that Mr Silver was filled with significant anger towards An Garda Síochána and that the encounter with Garda Horkan provided an opportunity to act on that anger. The prosecution argued that Mr Silver's mental state was not impaired in any significant way and that his behaviour that day was purposeful and deliberate. The defence claims Mr Silver was suffering from bipolar affective disorder which diminished his responsibility. A consultant psychiatrist for the prosecution disputed this assessment. The jury will hear closing submissions from the defence before Mr Justice Paul McDermott provides further direction.
A man accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan gave inconsistent accounts of the shooting in the immediate aftermath and during garda interviews, a prosecution barrister told the Central Criminal Court on the twenty-first day of trial. James Dwyer SC said the accused's statements at the scene contrasted sharply with evidence he later presented in court, suggesting his account may have been constructed to support his defence rather than reflect accurate recollection. The prosecutor outlined how the accused initially denied the victim was a garda, subsequently claimed the victim identified himself but wore civilian clothing, and later suggested the victim may have been a drug dealer. The accused also provided varying explanations for how the victim sustained injuries. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, denies murdering Detective Garda Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Expert psychiatric evidence differed on whether the accused's mental capacity was diminished at the time. Stephen Silver pleaded not guilty.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Silver, who denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, heard closing arguments are immencing. A prosecution psychiatrist told the jury that Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, was not psychotic and not suffering from delusions when he shot and killed the detective at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Professor Harry Kennedy said Mr Silver's execution of a complex sequence of actions, including gaining control of the weapon, firing multiple times, and aiming deliberately at the victim's trunk, demonstrated his capacity to form intent. Mr Silver accepts killing Garda Horkan but has pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The defence called a psychiatrist who argued Mr Silver suffered from a mental disorder affecting his responsibility. Mr Justice Paul McDermott advised the jury that closing submissions and his legal charge would follow over several days.
A man accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan became severely mentally unwell the day before the shooting and his sister planned to have him admitted to a psychiatric hospital, the Central Criminal Court heard on Friday. Marian Bruen, a schoolteacher, told the trial of her brother Stephen Silver that during a phone call she noticed he was hyper-stressed, speaking rapidly, and displaying signs of paranoia. She recognised these as indicators that he required hospital admission. Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard near Foxford in County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The offence occurred at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. A prosecution consultant psychiatrist, Professor Harry Kennedy, told the court he did not believe Silver qualified for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. He stated the accused showed no remorse during gardaí interviews and maintained heightened emotional states without evidence of fixed delusions. The trial continues.
At the Central Criminal Court, a consultant psychiatrist has disputed evidence that a murder accused's responsibility was diminished due to mental illness. Professor Harry Kennedy told Stephen Silver's trial that the accused, aged 46 and from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, displayed a pattern of self-dramatising behaviour during confrontations with gardaí rather than symptoms typical of bipolar disorder. Professor Kennedy referenced a 2006 incident in which Mr Silver emerged from his apartment with a sword and helmet before eventually complying with gardaí, characterising this as theatrical rather than pathological. He argued that Mr Silver's actions surrounding the death of Detective Garda Horkan—including repeatedly firing a gun and selectively deciding how to cooperate with gardaí afterwards—demonstrated purposeful intent and rational decision-making inconsistent with diminished responsibility. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues.
Muiris Flynn, an electrician convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Ms Áine O'Connor and Catherine Carey, drink-driving, and driving without insurance in Doon, Co Roscommon, on 24 September 2017, has won an unfair dismissal claim against Irish Rail. Flynn pleaded guilty to these charges and was sentenced in October 2019 to four years in prison, with the final 30 months suspended. Although the Court of Appeal later deemed the original sentence unduly lenient, it did not increase the active custody portion, instead imposing a €20,000 fine. Irish Rail terminated Flynn's employment in March 2020, arguing his contract was frustrated by his imprisonment. However, the Workplace Relations Commission rejected this argument. Adjudicating officer Brian Dolan found that Irish Rail failed to consult Flynn and that his absence did not necessitate termination. The tribunal awarded Flynn €4,000 in compensation, noting that while his conduct contributed to the dismissal, the employer had not proven the contract ended by frustration. This decision upholds Flynn's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, confirming that his dismissal was unlawful despite his criminal conviction and imprisonment.
At the Central Criminal Court trial, consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that defendant Stephen Silver, 46, suffered from bipolar affective disorder which significantly diminished his responsibility for the killing of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. Dr Wright diagnosed Silver with a severe mental illness characterized by mania, psychotic symptoms, and delusions, stating that his impairment in thinking and judgment contributed significantly to his actions. She supported the defense argument that under Section 6 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, a jury should find him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Silver, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, Co. Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det Garda Horkan, alleging he was reckless as to whether the victim was acting in accordance with his duty. He has also pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility for the incident in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. Dr Wright noted that Silver's condition was exacerbated by his repeated failure to take prescribed medication, though she disagreed with the prosecution expert who argued he had intact mental capacity. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, with cross-examination continuing.
A consultant psychiatrist told the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Silver's behaviour following the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020 displayed possible signs of abnormal or manic mental state. Dr Brenda Wright, giving evidence at the trial of the 46-year-old mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, described his conduct during garda interviews as bizarre and inappropriate, including grandiose claims about military rank and hostile outbursts. She noted his failure to grasp the gravity of his circumstances contrasted sharply with the professional demeanour of investigating gardaí. Dr Wright referenced Mr Silver's psychiatric history, including bipolar disorder and seventeen prior admissions since 1997. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Dr Wright's evidence continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and jury.
A 56-year-old man from Ballina in County Mayo appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in connection with allegations relating to the sale of a Spanish property owned by Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross, Dublin. Michael Egan of Bunnanertish, Knockanillaun was charged with dishonestly inducing the hospice to sell the property at a loss through deception on 5 March 2015. He was returned to the Circuit Court from the District Court to face trial, which has been scheduled for 25 November 2024. Mr Egan will remain on continuing bail pending trial. Judge Martin Nolan amended his bail conditions, ordering him to sign on at his local garda station every Sunday and Monday and to provide a mobile phone number to gardaí, which must be kept fully charged at all times.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The Central Criminal Court has heard evidence that Silver assaulted psychiatric staff nine months before fatally shooting the detective eleven times. Psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright testified that Silver had been admitted to psychiatric units seventeen times since 1997, with diagnoses including bipolar affective disorder and schizoaffective disorder. She stated that Silver stopped taking medication following his release from hospital in September 2019. Dr Wright noted that by April 2021, after ten months on antipsychotic medication whilst in custody, Silver had returned to his normal state. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court regarding the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. During his testimony, he described a struggle with the detective during which he obtained the garda's firearm and discharged it eleven times as Garda Horkan fell to the ground. Mr Silver stated he was experiencing confused thoughts and acted in self-defence, believing he faced danger. Under cross-examination, counsel highlighted that Mr Silver had been admitted to psychiatric units seventeen times since 2003 and had discontinued prescribed medication despite medical advice, preferring how he felt without treatment. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
A 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, has testified at the Central Criminal Court that he was living in a shed without running water and had discontinued psychiatric medication in the weeks preceding the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in June 2020. Stephen Silver, who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, told the court he experienced escalating mental distress characterised by delusional thinking, including beliefs that an acquaintance was an MI6 agent and that the SAS had planted explosives. He stated he had considered voluntary psychiatric admission the day before the incident but felt "hyper" and "elated" on the morning in question. Silver, diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder and bipolar disorder, disclosed he had abandoned prescribed medication believing it impaired his functioning, though he has resumed treatment since his arrest and reports feeling stable. His testimony before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and jury continues.
Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who was fatally shot two years prior, had assisted in admitting the man accused of his murder to a psychiatric unit in 2003, the Central Criminal Court heard on 25 October 2022. A retired garda sergeant gave evidence that he attended the family home of Stephen Silver near Castlerea, County Roscommon, following an incident that year, alongside Garda Horkan and others. Mr Silver was subsequently admitted to the local psychiatric unit due to his behaviour at that time. The accused, aged 46 and from Foxford, County Mayo, denies murdering Garda Horkan but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. During interview footage viewed by the jury, a garda inspector questioned Mr Silver about the circumstances of the shooting at Castlerea Garda Station. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, continues before the Central Criminal Court. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A psychiatrist assessed Stephen Silver, the accused in Detective Garda Colm Horkan's murder, hours after the shooting at Castlerea Garda Station in County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Dr Will Monteiro, a consultant psychiatrist with three decades' experience, found no evidence of acute mental illness during his evaluation. The doctor noted that Mr Silver's speech and behaviour appeared within normal limits, though he was reluctant to engage in conversation and demanded his family's presence. Dr Monteiro concluded Mr Silver was fit to be interviewed. Under cross-examination, the defence highlighted that the assessment was incomplete, as Mr Silver had refused full evaluation, and that Dr Monteiro had recommended a formal forensic assessment. Mr Silver, aged 46 and from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The Central Criminal Court trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavim, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The incident occurred on 17 June 2020 in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. During interviews conducted at Castlerea Garda Station on 18 June 2020, Mr Silver claimed he acted in self-defence after being attacked by an armed man he did not initially recognize as a garda. He contended that Detective Garda Horkan was fumbling with his firearm and that he only discharged the weapon in defence. The jury viewed DVD recordings of these interviews with detectives. Mr Silver denied shooting the detective whilst on the ground and maintained he threw the gun away after obtaining possession of it. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavain, Foxford, County Mayo, appeared before the Central Criminal Court where a video recording of his first garda interview was presented. Mr Silver denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan in June 2020 by shooting him. During his interview at Castlerea Garda Station, Mr Silver told gardaí that Detective Garda Horkan initiated a struggle after approaching him on Patrick Street in Castlerea, and that during the confrontation, Detective Garda Horkan attempted to draw his firearm. Mr Silver claimed he acted in self-defence when the gun discharged during their struggle. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility but maintains his not guilty plea to murder. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve, continues before the Central Criminal Court.
At the Central Criminal Court, a general practitioner testified that Stephen Silver appeared disconnected from reality in the hours following the fatal shooting of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Dr Greg Kelly described observing the accused, aged 46 and from Foxford, County Mayo, exhibiting restless and agitated behaviour at Castlerea Garda Station, including paranoid ideation and speech patterns suggestive of acute psychiatric disturbance. The doctor administered an anti-psychotic medication and recommended psychiatric assessment, believing Silver was experiencing a manic episode consistent with bipolar disorder. Later that day, Dr Kelly noted the accused appeared unnaturally detached from the gravity of events. The State Pathologist detailed that Detective Garda Horkan sustained eleven gunshot wounds, including injuries to vital organs, with forensic evidence indicating some shots were fired from close range. Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The defence argues mental illness substantially reduced his culpability at the time of the shooting.
A key witness in the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Silver, who is accused of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan, has testified that he deliberately kept the accused away from gardaí on the night of the shooting in Foxford, County Mayo. James Coyne told the court that on June 17th, 2020, Silver called to his home and they travelled together to Foxford, where Silver transferred a motorcycle to him. When Silver later expressed interest in visiting Castlerea Garda Station a second time that evening, Coyne said he steered him away, fearing trouble. The court also heard that following his arrest at the scene, Silver urinated on his cell floor and may have self-harmed by striking his head against the wall. Gardaí described his behaviour as agitated. The trial, which continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, also heard CCTV evidence of Silver's movements on the day in question.
A witness told the Central Criminal Court murder trial that he heard the accused man say "If I didn't kill him, he would have killed me" at the scene in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Marcus Silvera, a resident of Main Street in the town, testified that he heard gunshots shortly before midnight on 17 June 2020 and observed a man with long hair and a black leather jacket walking in the street and shouting. Garda Enda Rowley also gave evidence, describing how the accused, Stephen Silver, was found handcuffed at the scene and later questioned at Castlerea Garda Station. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan but has admitted manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues at the Central Criminal Court.
Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavale near Foxford in County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan on June 17th, 2020 in Castlerea, County Roscommon. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. At the Central Criminal Court, Sergeant Michael O'Hara testified that upon arriving at the scene, Mr Silver told him he had retrieved a firearm from an unknown man who approached him on Main Street. When informed that he had shot a detective garda, Mr Silver allegedly responded negatively about the officer's competence. Gardaí at the scene described Mr Silver's demeanor and actions following his arrest. A witness living overlooking the location provided an account of the shooting itself. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of twelve, continues.
A garda witness testified at the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Silver, aged 46, a mechanic from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, displayed a "smirk" while verbally confronting him as he attempted to resuscitate Detective Garda Colm Horkan following the shooting in Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Garda Aidan Fallon described observing two men fighting before hearing gunshots, then witnessing a man shoot another man lying on the ground twice. Upon discovering the injured man was Detective Garda Horkan, Fallon began CPR, during which the accused allegedly told him he was "doing it wrong" and "killing him". Mr Silver, who denies murder, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues with cross-examination of the witness. Stephen Silver pleaded not guilty.
A member of An Garda Síochána gave emotional testimony at the Central Criminal Court today describing the moment she witnessed a gunman fire multiple shots at her colleague Detective Garda Colm Horkan as he lay on the ground in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Garda Helen Gillen told the court she and Garda Aidan Fallon were driving near the junction of Main Street and Patrick Street when they observed two men grappling before hearing what they believed to be gunshots. She said she saw a man emerge from nearby premises carrying a firearm and fire at the man on the ground, though she could not recall the exact number of shots fired. Garda Gillen stated the shooter was wearing a black jacket with a luminous stripe and a backpack. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in relation to Detective Garda Horkan's death on 17 June 2020. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
A witness living near Castlerea, County Roscommon heard "roaring and shouting" and observed erratic behaviour in the minutes before Detective Garda Colm Horkan was fatally shot on June 17th, 2020, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Paul McGarry described seeing two men ducking behind walls and a motorbike being driven at speed without lights before hearing what he believed were gunshots at 11.50pm. A second witness, Laura McIntyre, reported seeing a bearded man in his 40s driving recklessly on the motorcycle, shouting about armed squads and firearms. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Garda evidence outlined that earlier that day an agitated man had visited Castlerea station complaining about alleged abuse of an elderly person, with subsequent checks linking a blue van to Silver. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorcycle mechanic from Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The Central Criminal Court heard that Detective Garda Horkan, aged 49 and with nearly 25 years' service, was fatally shot shortly before midnight after an encounter with Mr Silver on Patrick Street. Prosecution counsel outlined that Mr Silver told gardaí the garda attacked him and stated: "With all that's going on with the police in this world, I shot him." The post mortem examination revealed eleven gunshot wounds. The defence argues Mr Silver's responsibility is substantially diminished due to mental health difficulties. A psychiatrist will give evidence for both the prosecution and defence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo. Mr Silver pleaded not guilty to the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who died in the course of his duties in Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. However, he entered a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, was cautioned by Mr Justice Paul McDermott that members with immediate family in An Garda Síochána should not serve. The trial is expected to last up to seven weeks. If convicted of murder, Mr Silver faces a mandatory 40-year sentence. The matter was adjourned to 7 October.