Stephen Silver’s manslaughter plea heard as murder defence closes

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Stephen Silver had pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at the Central Criminal Court, reported on 9 November 2022, while denying murder.

In her closing speech, defence barrister Roisin Lacey SC argued that evidence of Silver’s bipolar disorder made a murder conviction unsafe. She also questioned whether the prosecution had proved Detective Garda Colm Horkan was a serving garda acting in accordance with his duty.

The prosecution’s psychiatrist, Professor Harry Kennedy, disagreed with the defence psychiatrist, Dr Brenda Wright, saying Silver’s mental capacity was intact when he killed Horkan. The jury was due to receive the judge’s directions the following day.