Jury to continue deliberating in Garda Colm Horkan murder trial

The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Stephen Silver continues deliberations in the case concerning the death of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on June 17, 2020. Mr Silver, aged 46 and from Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The jury, comprising seven men and five women, has deliberated for over five hours and will resume considerations on a third day. Justice Tara Burns has directed the panel that possible verdicts include capital murder, murder simpliciter, or manslaughter based on diminished responsibility or self-defence. The central issue concerns Mr Silver's mental state at the time of the shooting. The defence argues Mr Silver was experiencing a relapse of mental illness that substantially reduced his responsibility, while the prosecution contends the shooting was a deliberate act motivated by resentment towards gardaí. Expert psychiatric evidence was presented by both the defence and prosecution regarding Mr Silver's mental condition at the time of the incident.