Garda breaks down as she describes gunman firing into colleague

A member of An Garda Síochána gave emotional testimony at the Central Criminal Court today describing the moment she witnessed a gunman fire multiple shots at her colleague Detective Garda Colm Horkan as he lay on the ground in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Garda Helen Gillen told the court she and Garda Aidan Fallon were driving near the junction of Main Street and Patrick Street when they observed two men grappling before hearing what they believed to be gunshots. She said she saw a man emerge from nearby premises carrying a firearm and fire at the man on the ground, though she could not recall the exact number of shots fired. Garda Gillen stated the shooter was wearing a black jacket with a luminous stripe and a backpack. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in relation to Detective Garda Horkan's death on 17 June 2020. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.