Man appears in court charged with the murder of Irish police detective Colm Horkan

A 43-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

Stephen Silver, from Aughaward, Foxford in Co Mayo, appeared before a special sitting at Castlerea District Court on Friday night wearing a black T-shirt and jogging bottoms.

Following the brief appearance, Judge Alan Mitchell remanded him into custody and he will appear in court next week via videolink.

Mr Horkan, nicknamed ‘The Bear’, was shot dead in Castlerea – a small town north west of Dublin – on Wednesday night, leading to the opening of a murder investigation. 

Stephen Sliver, from Aughaward, Foxford in Co Mayo, was arrested on Friday and appeared in court charged with the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan

Handcuffed, Silver was led by officers to and from the courtroom, during which Judge Alan Mitchell remanded him into custody

Silver, a mechanic, will now appear in court next week via videolink

Mr Horkan, 49, was murdered in the sleepy town just before midnight. I

On Friday, hundreds of people gathered in Mayo and Roscommon to pay their respects to Mr Horkan.

There were emotional scenes in Ballaghaderreen as the hearse carrying the remains of Mr Horkan made its way through the town towards his home in Charlestown.

Tributes from devastated colleagues and politicians poured in as Ireland grieved the loss of Detective Colm Horkan, above, the 89th member Garda force member killed in the line of duty

The cortege was flanked by gardai on motorcycles, while people lined the streets where Mr Horkan had worked for several years.

Floral tributes were left outside Ballaghaderreen garda station. In Castlerea, where the garda was shot dead, many people queued to sign a book of condolence.

Mr Horkan’s funeral will take place at St James’s Church in Charlestown on Sunday.

Gardai believe Mr Horkan’s gun was taken from him after he became involved an altercation while he was on patrol.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris described the killing as a ‘random act’.

Hundreds of local people gathered in Castlerea on Thursday evening for a vigil paying tribute.

Gardai are examining how a State funeral will be held for Detective Horkan given the Covid-19 restrictions as members of the public will also want to pay their respects.

Books of condolence have opened at garda stations around the country, while Dublin City Council has opened an online book of condolence, with all messages to be presented to Detective Horkan’s family.

Meanwhile, Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran said the death of Detective Garda Horkan has caused outrage in the area and appealed for calm.

Bishop Doran said the community in Co Roscommon is still trying to come to terms with Detective Horkan’s death.

People lined streets of Ballaghaderreen as the hearse carrying Mr Horkan travelled through

‘There is an actual feeling of revulsion in people about what happened… it is important we don’t allow what has happened to bring our society down to that level. What has happened and the cruel way in which it happened, does not and cannot define the kind of society that we are,’ he told Shannonside FM.

Politicians were among those signing books of condolence, among them Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Labour TD Brendan Howlin paid their respects.

A heavy police presence remained at the scene on Friday as officers closed the centre of Castlerea to traffic while investigations are conducted. 

President of the Garda Representative Association Jim Mulligan said ‘brave’ Mr Colm ‘died as result of injuries sustained’ in the incident.   

Tributes from devastated colleagues and politicians poured in as Ireland grieved the loss of the 89th member Garda force member killed in the line of duty. 

The main street close to the scene of the murder was promptly sealed off by Garda 

A Garda vehicle was seen stationed behind tape and barriers as investigations remain underway to establish details of the incident 

Mr Colm joined An Garda Siochana in 1995 and was described as an experienced detective who was greatly respected by colleagues.

He was heavily involved in the local Charlestown Sarsfields GAA club, and was affectionately known on the pitch as ‘The Bear’, The Independent said.

He lived on the outskirts of the town with his father and was considered a pillar of the community, home to around 2,000 people.  

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he was ‘deeply saddened’ at the news of Colm’s death, and said he ‘served the communities he worked in with distinction and pride.

‘Today is a terrible reminder of the significant sacrifices, including the ultimate sacrifice, that Gardai make to keep people safe.’  

Irish President Michael D Higgins said news of Colm’s death had ‘come as a shock to us all’.  

‘An Garda Siochana play a crucial role in our communities and this loss of life is traumatic for our society as a whole.’ 

A members of the fire service carries flowers to the scene as the local community reeled in shock at the killing of Colm Horkan

The scene in the aftermath in Castelere showed a Garda van blocking the road behind police tape along a street lined with local businesses and homes 

Irish Premier Leo Varadkar said: ‘Every day our gardai put themselves on the front line of crime prevention, on behalf of all of us’.

‘This requires regular acts of bravery and courage. Sometimes the outcome is tragic and a garda makes the ultimate sacrifice in the course of their duties.’   

Colm is survived by his father, sister and four brothers, and the shooting has been referred to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission because the incident involved a Garda firearm.  

Ireland’s justice minister, Charlie Flanagan, offered his condolences to the ‘brave’ detective and described his death as a ‘loss to wider Irish society. His heroism and the debt of gratitude which we owe to him and his family will never be forgotten.’

A Garda vain remained at the scene on Friday behind tape cordoning off a road.

The Policing Authority, the Garda’s oversight body, said the killing of a garda is ‘an attack on the essence and the foundations of our democracy

Flanagan added that people have been particularly dependent on the gardai during the coronavirus pandemic. 

He said they ‘have been selflessly working to protect our health and wellbeing, in the best tradition of the service’.  

Antoinette Cunningham, general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, said it was a ‘sad, sad day’ for the Garda.

‘Devastated to hear this Garda Colleague has passed away,’ she tweeted. 

The Policing Authority, the Garda’s oversight body, said the killing of a garda is ‘an attack on the essence and the foundations of our democracy.

‘It is a fundamental assault on the principle of equality.’ 

Politician Denis Naughten who represents Roscommon-Galway, said the community was in shock.

‘We are absolutely devastated, shocked and saddened by what we heard overnight.  

Mr Naughten said the killing evoked memories of the shooting of the two gardai in 1980.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he was ‘deeply saddened’ at the news of Colm’s death, and said he ‘served the communities he worked in with distinction and pride’. Harris is pictured above centre arriving at the scene today 

Detective Garda John Morley and Garda Henry Byrne were shot dead by armed bank robbers near Castlerea in the village of Loughglynn. 

‘It’s just coming up on their 40th anniversary so that will add to the sense of loss within the community over the coming days,’ he said.

North of the border, Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Simon Byrne offered his condolences.

‘Awful news this morning coming from @GardaTraffic with the death of a Garda colleague in Castlerea,’ he tweeted.

‘Thoughts from all @PoliceServiceNI with his family, friends and colleagues at such a difficult time.’