Man charged with murder of Det/Garda
ACCUSED WILL REAPPEAR THIS FRIDAY VIA VIDEO LINK FROM PRISON
A 43-year-old man will re-appear before a court in County Roscommon this Friday having been remanded in custody on a charge of murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan.
Detective Garda Colm Horkan, 49, a native of Charlestown, was shot dead on Wednesday night in Castlerea.
His State funeral took place in the town on Sunday.
On Friday night last at 10.30pm, Stephen Silver from Aughaward, Foxford in County Mayo appeared before a special sitting of Castlerea District Court.
Silver, a mechanic, was dressed in a black t-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and blue flip flops and with a glove on his right hand. He repeatedly shook his head throughout the short hearing.
Garda Helen Gillen gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. She told the court she arrested Silver at 10.17pm on Friday at Castlerea Garda Station and he was charged with the murder a minute later.
Garda Gillen, who was first on the scene in Castlerea along with Gda Aidan Fallon on Wednesday night, told the court that Silver made no comment when the charge was put to him.
Before he was remanded in custody, he addressed the court, shaking his head repeatedly, and said: “Unreal. “Absolutely unreal.
“I had no firearm on me.” Judge Alan Mitchell told him that he did not have to say anything at this time and that Gearoid Geraghty was his solicitor and whatever he had to say, he could say through him.
Mr Geraghty asked the judge that any medical treatment required should be made available to his client in custody.
He added that the results of any medical evaluation should be made available to the defence, prosecution and the court.
The judge granted Silver free legal aid and recommended that he receive a medical assessment and evaluation and the appropriate medical treatment.
He remanded him in custody to Castlerea Prison to appear again in Harristown District Court by video link on Friday 26 June. Bail cannot be applied for in the District Court on a murder charge and any application has to be made before the High Court.
Earlier on Friday evening, hundreds of local people lined the streets in Ballaghadereen, County Roscommon to pay their respects to the much-loved detective.
Dozens of gardaí who were stationed with the 49-year-old formed a poignant guard of honour for the highly respected and popular officer.
The hearse pulled up for two-to-three minutes outside Ballaghadereen Garda Station where Det Colm Horkan worked for 13 years as people stood in applause.