Courts / Roscommon / Report

'Now he's dead and I'm alive and you're making a huge f**king deal about it': Garda murder accused to detectives

Summary

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 Roscommon, on 17 June 2020, presented varying accounts of the fatal shooting. The accused, who has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter, told detectives on 18 June 2020 that Garda Horkan discharged his own firearm accidentally during a struggle. In the interviews conducted by Detective Inspectors Brian Hanley and Patrick Farrell, Mr Silver initially claimed he did not fire shots, later stating he fired only into the air, before subsequently denying he fired at all. He maintained he acted in self-defence against an armed assailant whilst en route to purchase food. The court was told Mr Silver had been off medication since September and had not slept for approximately thirty hours at the time of interview. The trial, where Mr Silver's state of mind is the central issue, continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Now he's dead and I'm alive and you're making a huge f**king deal about it': Garda murder accused to detectives. Charges or matters: the capital murder of Gda Horkan knowing or being reckless as to whether he was a member of An Garda Siochana acting in accordance with his duty at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on June 17, 2020; manslaughter and the jury have been told the main issue in the trial is Mr Silver's state of mind at the time of the shooting. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 17, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 18, 2020 Incident
• June 18 Other
• 2023-02-17 Publication

Why: Photo: Collins) Stephen Silver, who is on trial for capital murder, told detectives that Garda Colm Horkan "shot himself accidentally" because he was "an idiot with a firearm", the Central Criminal Court has heard. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report