Stephen Silver, aged 46 and a resident of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Justice Tara Burns imposed the sentence, noting she had no discretion in light of the jury's guilty verdict on the capital murder charge. The court heard that Silver had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. With standard remission for good behaviour, Silver will become eligible for parole consideration after 30 years, when he will be aged 74. Justice Burns emphasised the importance of mental health treatment maintenance, noting evidence that Silver had ceased medication for bipolar affective disorder prior to the shooting. Members of Garda Horkan's family delivered impact statements describing their profound loss and the ongoing trauma caused by his death.
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Original report plus public source leads and related archive reports used for review context.
Public source leads
- 'There are lonely nights at home without him': Colm Horkan's father reacts to Stephen Silver sentencing - Irish Examiner Irish Examiner · Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT
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Stephen McCullagh found guilty of murdering his pregnant partner ...
irishtimes.com
Mar 23, 2026 · Natalie McNally (32), who was 15 weeks pregnant, was stabbed in her home in Lurgan, Co Armagh. Stephen McCullagh (36) has been found guilty of her murder
- ‘We got justice for Colm’ –murdered garda’s father says he hopes killer Stephen Silver ‘serves every day’ of life sentence - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT
- Wife of garda killer Stephen Silver says her husband is unwell – ‘He is not the man described in court’ - Irish Independent Irish Independent · Sat, 18 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT
- Stephen Silver sentenced to life for murder of Garda Colm Horkan - BreakingNews.ie BreakingNews.ie · Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT
- Silver sentenced to 40 years for murder of Garda Horkan - RTE.ie RTE.ie · Wed, 19 Apr 2023 07:00:00 GMT
- 'Intolerable' for garda's family to have impasse in Stephen Silver appeal 'drag on', judge says - BreakingNews.ie BreakingNews.ie · Mon, 12 May 2025 07:00:00 GMT
- Gda Colm Horkan's killer Stephen Silver called 'sick man' after guilty verdict - The Irish Sun The Irish Sun · Wed, 15 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT
Related court reports
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Garda murder accused 'looking crazy' after shooting, witness tells trial
Courts News Ireland · 2023-02-13
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...
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Garda tells murder trial of performing CPR on colleague shot with own gun
Courts News Ireland · 2023-02-07
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....
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'Now he’s dead and I’m alive and you’re making a huge f**king deal about it': Garda murder accused to detectives
Courts News Ireland · 2023-02-17
A Central Criminal Court jury has heard garda interview footage in which Stephen Silver, charged with the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County...
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Jury finds Stephen Silver guilty of capital murder after two trials
Courts News Ireland · 2023-03-15
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has found Stephen Silver guilty of capital murder following a retrial. Silver, aged 46, a mechanic from Aughaward, Foxford, County...
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'His eyes were still open but the life had gone out of them': Colm Horkan's garda colleague gives evidence at trial
Courts News Ireland · 2023-02-08
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...