Murder of Colm Horkan

Garda Colm Horkan was a detective in the Garda Síochána, the national police service of Ireland, who was shot dead by a 43-year-old man in Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland on 17 June 2020, while on an anti-crime patrol.[1][2]

Murder of Colm Horkan
Main Street, Castlerea, County Roscommon, where the attack occurred.
LocationMain Street, Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland
Date17 June 2020 (2020-06-17)
11:45 pm (GMT)
Attack type
Shooting
WeaponSIG Sauer P226

Personal life

Colm Horkan was born on 13 December 1970 in Charlestown, County Mayo to parents Dolores and Marty.[3][4] He grew up with his four brothers - Aidan, Brendan, Dermot and Pádraic, and two sisters - Deirdre and Collette.[5] Horkan was a former Charlestown Sarsfields GAA footballer and joined the Garda Síochána in 1994.[6] He attended the Garda Síochána College in Templemore, County Tipperary, the same time as Adrian Donohoe who was later shot dead in 2013 in a Credit Union robbery in County Louth, becoming the 87th garda to be killed in the line of duty.[7]

Incident

On Wednesday, 17 June 2020 at 11:45 pm, Horkan was on an anti-crime patrol by himself in Castlerea, County Roscommon and stopped a man on a moped after receiving a report of someone speeding and acting suspiciously in the town.[8][9] After a struggle the man managed to get hold of Horkan's official SIG Sauer handgun and fired fifteen rounds, hitting him six times. The other nine rounds went through a bank and shop window in the town centre.[10][11][12][13] At around midnight, Gardaí rushed to the scene after hearing the gunshots from Castlerea Garda Station – just five minutes away from the scene.[14] The Armed Support Unit arrived at the scene after Horkan pressed his panic button on his radio for emergency backup prior to the shooting.[15] He was later pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene becoming the 89th garda to be killed in the line of duty.[16][17] The suspect made no attempt to flee the scene and was arrested minutes later.[18][19]

Aftermath

The day after the incident on 18 June 2020, the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and President Michael D. Higgins paid tribute to Horkan.[20] Hundreds of people attended a vigil for Horkan in Castlerea, County Roscommon to pay their respects. A small marquee was set up on the street where the incident occurred and tributes were led by local Fianna Fáil councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice.[21][22] On 20 June 2020, the President Michael D. Higgins led a memorial service on the grounds of Áras an Uachtaráin.[23] On 21 June 2020, a state funeral was held in St James's Church in his hometown of Charlestown, County Mayo.[24] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland, social distancing protocols meant the numbers in the church were limited to Horkan's immediate family along with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the then Minister for Justice and Equality Charles Flanagan.[25] Dáil Éireann and garda stations around Ireland marked a minute's silence to remember Horkan.[26][27] The then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar marked the minute silence at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park. At Áras an Uachtaráin, the president attended a ringing the Peace Bell and raised the Irish flag at half-mast as a mark of respect to Horkan.[28][29]

On 5 September, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee honoured and reflected on the loss of Horkan as she marked National Services Day 2020.[30]

The suspect

Stephen Silver, a 43-year-old man living in Foxford, County Mayo, but originally from County Roscommon, was arrested at the scene by Garda Helen Gillen and was brought to Castlerea Garda Station.[31][32] He appeared at Castlerea District Court and was charged with the murder of Horkan on 19 June 2020.[33] Silver was first remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison on 19 June and was then transferred to the Midlands Prison.[34]

Court

Silver was repeatedly deemed unfit to attend court at Harristown District Court in Roscommon via video link due to mental health issues and drug and alcohol abuse.[35][36]

Timeline
  • 26 June 2020 – Silver was due to appear in court via video link on 26 June 2020 but was deemed unfit to appear for the first time.[37] He was due to appear in court again via video link on 10 July 2020.[38]
  • 10 July 2020
    • It was revealed by Silver's solicitor Gearoid Geraghty that he was medically unwell and was unable to attend court for another two weeks.
    • Silver was being detained at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin, where he was receiving ongoing psychiatric treatment. He was due to appear in court again on 24 July.[39]
  • 24 July 2020 – It was announced that Silver's health is expected to gradually improve during the next two months and was still unable to attend court. He was due to appear in court for the third time on 7 August.[40]
  • 7 August 2020
    • Defence solicitor Martina Moran of Gearoid Geraghty & Company said that Silver was still receiving treatment at the Central Mental Hospital.[41]
    • It was now the fourth time Silver has been deemed unfit to appear by video link at Harristown District Court.[42] He was due to appear in court via video link again on 21 August.[43]
  • 21 August 2020
    • Silver was deemed medically unfit to attend court for the fifth time and remained at the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin.[44]
    • It was reported that the extent of the investigation involves 200 statements, 250 exhibits and 70 segments of CCTV footage, while gardaí made inquiries with a witness in Australia.[45][46]
    • He was due to appear in court via video link again on 4 September.[47]
  • 4 September
    • Silver was deemed medically unfit to attend court for the sixth time and remained at the Central Mental Hospital.[48]
    • Harristown Court was informed that the file into the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.[49]
    • He was due to appear in court via video link again on 18 September.[50]
  • 18 September
    • Silver was deemed medically unfit to attend court for the seventh time and remained at the Central Mental Hospital.
    • Further details of the extent of the murder investigation were outlined at Harristown District Court when a defence solicitor questioned the length of time it was taking for the file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.[51]
    • Gardaí carried out over 350 house-to-house enquiries, taken over 200 written statements and viewed 70 pieces of CCTV footage.[52]
    • He was due to appear in court via video link again on 7 October.[53]
  • 23 October
    • Silver was deemed medically unfit to attend court for the tenth time and remained at the Central Mental Hospital.
    • A court heard that the case of Silver accused of murdering Detective Garda Horkan should proceed without the accused being present.[54]
    • He was due to appear in court via video link again on 6 November.[55]
  • 6 November
    • Further charges were considered against Silver as he was deemed medically unfit to attend court for the eleventh time and remained at the Central Mental Hospital.[56]
    • He was due to appear in court via video link again on 20 November.
  • 27 November
    • Silver appeared at Castlerea District Court where he was charged with the capital murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, and was remanded in custody to the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise to appear via video link before Harristown District Court on 4 December.[57][58][59]

See also

References
  1. "Colm Horkan: Man charged with murder of Irish police detective". Sky News. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  2. O'Keeffe, Cormac (18 June 2020). "Appeal Issued For Witnesses To Garda Colm Horkan's Brutal Killing". Waterford News & Star. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  3. "A man of the highest integrity, Garda Horkan's friend, retired Garda Hynes writes about his colleague". extra.ie. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  4. Michael, Neil (22 June 2020). "Colm Horkan funeral: He 'never let any of his family or friends walk alone'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  5. Bruce, Helen (19 June 2020). "More heartfelt tributes pour in for Garda Colm Horkan who served with 'diligence and professionalism'". extra.ie. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  6. O'Brien, Kevin (18 June 2020). "'An incredibly loved and respected man' - GAA community pays tribute to Mayo's Colm Horkan". The42. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  7. Gallagher, Conor (18 June 2020). "Colm Horkan remembered as 'quintessential local guard' and 'pure GAA man'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. Brady, Tom; Murray, Eavan (19 June 2020). "Suspect fired 15 shots, hitting Det Garda Colm Horkan at least five times, before bullets ran out". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  9. Dunne, William (19 June 2020). "Timeline of killing of Garda Colm Horkan shot dead in Castlerea, Co Roscommon". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  10. McNiffe, Michael; Leslie, Neil (18 June 2020). "Garda Colm Horkan murder suspect named as mechanic Stephen Silver, 43". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  11. McNiffe, Michael; Leslie, Neil (19 June 2020). "Detective Garda Colm Horkan murder suspect named as mechanic Stephen Silver, 43". Dublin Live. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  12. Brady, Tom; Murray, Eavan (19 June 2020). "Slain Garda Colm Horkan shot 15 times with his own gun in brutal attack in Republic". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  13. Lally, Conor; Gallagher, Conor; McGreevy, Ronan; Clarke, Vivienne (18 June 2020). "Fifteen shots were fired in Castlerea with four hitting Det Garda Colm Horkan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  14. Dunne, William (18 June 2020). "Gardai rushed to Colm Horkan's aid after 'hearing shots' from Castlerea Garda Station, Co Roscommon". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  15. Bracken, Ali (19 June 2020). "Suspect Was Standing Over Detective Garda Colm Horkan When A Garda Car Arrived". extra.ie. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  16. "Garda Colm Horkan is 89th member of force killed in line of duty". The Irish Times. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  17. Lally, Conor (18 June 2020). "Colm Horkan 'was an absolute rock of integrity and sense'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  18. Quinn, Trevor; Mangan, Ian (19 June 2020). "Moving scenes as brave Colm Horkan's remains brought to old garda station in Ballaghaderreen". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
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  20. Thomas, Cónal (18 June 2020). "'Absolutely devastating': Tributes paid after death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in Roscommon shooting". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  21. Gataveckaite, Gabija (18 June 2020). "Hundreds attend vigil for Detective Garda Colm Horkan". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  22. Reynolds, Paul (18 June 2020). "Hundreds attend vigil for garda shot dead on duty". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  23. "President to hold memorial service for Detective Garda Colm Horkan as funeral takes place tomorrow". TheJournal.ie. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  24. McGrath, Pat (21 June 2020). "Mourners told Garda Colm Horkan was 'deeply loved'". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  25. Gallagher, Conor; Bowers, Shauna (21 June 2020). "Det Garda Colm Horkan 'epitomised' what members of force should strive to be, funeral told". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  26. Kenny, Aisling (21 June 2020). "Dáil observes minute's silence for Colm Horkan". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  27. "Gardaí gather in silent tribute to fallen colleague". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  28. Quann, Jack (21 June 2020). "Ireland marks a minute's silence for Garda Colm Horkan". Newstalk. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  29. President of Ireland [@PresidentIRL] (21 June 2020). "The national flag is being flown at half-mast at Áras an Uachtaráin, as a mark of respect to Det. Garda Horkan. Tá an bhratach náisiúnta ar leathchrann in Áras an Uachtaráin, mar chomhartha ómóis don Gharda Bleachtaire Horkan" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 July 2020 – via Twitter.
  30. "Minister McEntee commends the dedication and professionalism of frontline services, as she marks National Services Day 2020". gov.ie. Department of Justice. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
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  40. "Man charged with murder of garda Colm Horkan still unable to attend court". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
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  52. Fallon, John (18 September 2020). "OVER 350 HOUSE ENQUIRIES MADE IN GARDA HORKAN MURDER INVESTIGATION". Roscommon Herald. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
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