GARDA MURDER SUSPECT
Tragic Colm shot at least six times from close range with his own gun
This is the man in Garda custody on suspicion of the murder of brave detective Colm horkan.
Mechanic Stephen Silver, 43, is being held after the officer was shot dead with his own gun in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.
The 49-year-old, who was hit at least six times, was killed on a deserted street at 11.45pm on Wednesday night.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said it was “an attack upon society”.
The detective had stopped a man on a
moped after receiving a report of someone acting suspiciously.
It is believed the man attacked the officer, grabbed his Garda-issue Sig pistol and fired 15 rounds.
The tragic garda was hit at least six times and other rounds went through a bank and shop window in the town centre.
Shocked colleagues of Det Horkan were just five minutes away in Castlerea Garda station and raced to his aid after hearing shots, overpowering a man at the scene.
Mr Silver is from the Castlerea area and had recently returned from the UK.
Garda sources said he has minor convictions, including for road traffic and public order offences, and was involved in half a dozen mental health incidents.
Sources claimed the killer stood over the garda’s body after shooting him dead and made no attempt to get away.
The suspect is being held under Section 30 of the
Offences Against the State
Act. The news of the killing sent shockwaves through the force and rocked Gda
Horkan’s home town of Charlestown, Co Mayo, where he was a well-known GAA star.