Garda murder accused denies 'inventing' MI6 belief

Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavard in Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the capital murder of Garda Colm Horkan at Castlerea, County Roscommon on 17 June 2020. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to capital murder while knowing or being reckless as to whether the garda was acting in accordance with his duty, and has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. During cross-examination, prosecution counsel Michael Delaney SC questioned Mr Silver's assertion that a woman he was with prior to the shooting was connected to MI6, suggesting the claim had been invented to strengthen his defence. Mr Silver denied this, stating he had genuinely experienced such thoughts. The court heard evidence regarding Mr Silver's psychiatric history, previous incidents involving gardaí, and his pattern of non-compliance with medication following hospital discharge. Mr Silver maintained he did not know the deceased was a garda and stated he had been defending himself. The trial, before Ms Justice Tara Burns, continues.