New charge of capital murder for Det Garda Colm Horkan accused



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A new charge of capital murder was brought before the Castlerea District Court on Friday in the case of Stephen Silver (44), charged with murdering Garda detective Colm Horkan in Castlerea last June.

Garda Detective Colm Horkan (49), who was based at Castlerea Garda Station, died on June 17 at the junction of Main Street and St Patrick Street in the city after being shot while responding to an incident in the city.

The defendant, of Aughaward, Foxford, Co. Mayo, had been in pretrial detention since the incident. Silver appeared before the Friday morning session where he was detained at Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, where he will appear via video link in Harristown Court on December 4.

The defendant was brought to court sitting amid a strong Garda presence. He was wearing a gray jacket, a white open-necked shirt, gray pants, and his hair tied back.

The defendant was arrested and charged with the new crime at 11:29 this morning by Garda Helen Gillen from Castlerea Garda Station. The defendant did not respond to the capital murder charge.

Superintendent Tom Colsh told the court that it was a new charge and said the previous murder charge against the defendant remained “but may be dropped” at a later date.

Supt. Colsh said he looked forward to receiving instructions regarding the Evidence Book before next Friday’s session.

Judge Alan Mitchell granted a request for legal aid regarding the new charge to the defendant’s attorney, Gearoid Geraghty.

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