The family of murdered garda Colm Horkan have called for a public inquiry into claims that a faulty gun holster may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding his death.
In a statement, the Horkan family said persistent questions remain over the holster issued to Detective Garda Horkan on the night he was shot and killed by Stephen Silver in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, on June 17, 2020.
Crime Wrap: Friday October 16
Det Gda Horkan was disarmed during an encounter with Silver and shot 11 times. Silver was later convicted of capital murder and is serving a life sentence.
The family say they have spent years hearing allegations that the holster used by Colm was defective and that concerns about its safety had been raised before his death.
“Several persons, including protected disclosers, have stated repeatedly that it was known that this holster was faulty, that it was not fit for purpose, had been made by a saddlery and that complaints and disclosures had been made before the incident concerning the holster,” the statement said.
Detective Garda Colm Horkan and (inset) Stephen Silver
The family also pointed to a separate firearms incident involving another garda just six days before Det Gda Horkan’s murder.
The Irish Independent previously reported that a garda suffered life-changing injuries while on duty outside an embassy when his firearm discharged while inside the same type of holster supplied to Det Gda Horkan.
The statement said the injured officer “suffered life-changing injuries by reason of this faulty holster. It was made of pliable leather. It did not have the necessary stability to prevent movement and removal of the gun from the holster”.
The family said they had repeatedly sought answers from Garda management and successive Ministers for Justice.
“We have met with former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who did not have this holster properly and independently examined.
“We have continuously sought answers from the Commissioner but also from former Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD and Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD, Minister for Justice.”
The issue resurfaced in the Dáil on Thursday when the case of Detective Superintendent Brian O’Reilly was raised.
Det Supt O’Reilly, who was head of the Garda Technical Bureau at the time of Garda Horkan’s death, made a protected disclosure relating to the holsters and concerns that had been identified.
In the aftermath of Colm Horkan’s death responsibility for testing the holster after Garda Horkan’s death was outsourced from the Garda Technical Bureau, a departure from normal practice.
An examination of the holster involved in the embassy incident identified serious flaws, they said.
However, a second opinion commissioned by senior Garda management concluded those flaws were not life-threatening.
The Horkan family said the past six years since Colm’s death have been an unrelenting sorrow which has been compounded by lingering questions.
“Since Colm’s murder our lives have been a nightmare.
“We continue to live and endure Colm’s loss and constant references to Colm in the media.
“We have had to go through the whole criminal process leading to the conviction of Stephen Silver for his murder.
“For Colm, we would do anything to ensure that he is not forgotten, but also to ensure that the circumstances giving rise to his death are investigated and dealt with in an open and transparent way and that we, his family, are satisfied that we fought for him to ensure that all the circumstances of that fateful night are known.
“As far back as November 2023, the Garda Commissioner stated that he was not aware of any earlier complaints concerning the holster itself, but he did state that he was directing that they be replaced with a “modern holster” which would prevent its “easy removal”.
“It is clear, therefore, that the authorities were on notice of serious issues concerning the holster.
“The authorities, in particular the Commissioner, knew of the risks. None of this is to take from the fact that Stephen Silver murdered Colm.
“We have many, many questions which remain unanswered but are continuously asked:
“It is clear, therefore, that the authorities were on notice of serious issues concerning the holster,” the family said.
“The authorities, in particular the Commissioner, knew of the risks. None of this is to take from the fact that Stephen Silver murdered Colm.”
Calling for a public inquiry, the family said a number of key questions remain unanswered, including whether the holsters were procured in accordance with appropriate standards, when Garda management became aware of concerns and what steps were taken in response.
They also questioned why replacement of the holsters was delayed, what role the equipment may have played in the circumstances leading to Garda Horkan’s death and what actions followed investigations into both the shooting incident involving another garda and the death of their brother.
“We have many, many questions which remain unanswered,” the family said. “For Colm, we need those questions answered.”