Murder accused had 'seething resentment' toward gardai, prosecution tell jury

Stephen Silver, aged 46 of Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, stands trial at the Central Criminal Court on a charge of murdering Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. In closing submissions for the prosecution, Michael Delaney SC argued that the shooting was a deliberate act carried out with intent to kill, and that Mr Silver harboured a seething resentment toward gardaí. The prosecution contends that Mr Silver knew Garda Horkan was a member of An Garda Síochána acting in the course of his duty. The defence of diminished responsibility should be rejected, Mr Delaney submitted, noting that psychiatric evidence regarding Mr Silver's mental state remains disputed. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, will hear closing submissions from the defence before Justice Tara Burns before deliberating.