Courts / Roscommon / Report

Garda murder accused was 'outraged' at being detained because of 'learned impunity', psychiatrist tells trial

Summary

A consultant psychiatrist has told the Central Criminal Court that Stephen Silver, who stands accused of murdering Garda Colm Horkan with the officer's own firearm, displayed behaviour consistent with his personality rather than mental illness during garda interviews. Professor Harry Kennedy said the accused showed no regret or sympathy for the deceased and appeared angry and self-pitying, but these responses could be attributed to the stress of arrest. The psychiatrist stated that Mr Silver had developed "learned impunity" through a long history of disruptive conduct in Castlebar and surrounding areas, leading him to expect no charges would follow his actions. Mr Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to capital murder but guilty to manslaughter. The shooting occurred at Castlerea, County Roscommon, on 17 June 2020. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues with the jury's focus on the accused's state of mind at the time of the incident.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Garda murder accused was 'outraged' at being detained because of 'learned impunity', psychiatrist tells trial. Charges or matters: the capital murder of Garda Horkan (49) 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
• 2010 and 2018 Other
• 2023-03-07 Publication

Why: He said Mr Silver had learned from experience that he would not be charged and his surprise at being detained following the fatal shooting of Garda Colm Horkan was understandable because of his "learned impunity". CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report