Silver found guilty of capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan

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46-year-old Stephen Silver of Foxford, Co. Mayo was found guilty on Wednesday of the capital murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon in June 2020.

Mr Silver, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, Co. Mayo, had pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Garda Horkan (49). He had pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Following the verdict, Minister for Justice Simon Harris said his thoughts are with the family and friends of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, and with all his colleagues in An Garda Síochána. He said Colm’s murder “stole from his family and friends a beloved, kind and gentle man who served with duty and distinction, keeping his community safe and serving the State”.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said Wednesday was a sombre day, in particular for Colm Horkan’s family and friends, and for everybody in Colm’s wider Garda family.

Garda Horkan, who was on patrol alone in an unmarked Garda car in Castlerea on the night in question, stopped Silver after receiving a report of someone matching his description driving reck- lessly on a motorcycle in the town’s Main Street.

The court was previously told that a struggle had ensued between the two men during which Mr Silver took the detective’s service firearm from its holster and discharged fifteen rounds, hitting Garda Horkan 11 times and wounding him fatally.

The jury were told that the main issue in the trial was Silver’s state of mind at the time of the shooting. It was the defence case that he was suffering from a significant relapse of his long-standing bipolar affective disorder when he shot Detective Horkan.

The jury had a number of possible verdicts open to them including capital murder, murder or manslaughter on the basis of diminished responsibility, or self-defence.

Mr Silver had previously gone on trial for murder in 2022 but the jury at that time failed to reach a verdict.

The jury of seven men and five women began deliberations at the Central Criminal Court on Monday afternoon. The jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon before Ms Justice Tara Burns.

Mr Silver’s sentencing hearing will begin on Wednesday, April 19th. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Statement by Minister for Justice Simon Harris

My thoughts today are with the family and friends of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, and with all his colleagues in An Garda Síochána. Colm’s murder in June 2020 shocked us all.

It stole from his family and friends a beloved, kind and gentle man who served with duty and distinction, keeping his community safe and serving the State.

The Colm his family and friends knew and loved so much became a personal loss for the whole country.

A proud Mayo and GAA man; loved and respected in his community and by his colleagues; steadfast in his duties and professional and wholehearted in doing the job he loved as a Garda. His murder again reminded us of the risks the brave men and women of An Garda Síochána take every day to protect our communities, and the burden all Garda families carry in supporting them.

We also remember the 88 other Gardaí who have lost their lives in the line of duty and their families today.

Detective take