The first witnesses in the murder trial of a man accused of shooting dead a Garda in Castlerea two years ago will give evidence today.
Stephen Silver, of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Colm Horkan in June 2020.
The trial opened briefly on Friday afternoon to hear the first arguments by the prosecution.
The jury of seven men and five women heard that one witness will say the Garda was in the process of arresting the mechanic for assault at around midnight on June 17th 2020 when a struggle ensued.
Following an initial gunshot, the prosecution claims the Detective Garda was then shot a total of 11 times.
Following his arrest, the jury was told the accused claimed Detective Horkan attacked him before saying, 'and with all that's going on with the police in this world, I shot him'.
Stephen Silver has pleaded not guilty to a charge of capital murder, but guilty of manslaughter via diminished responsibility.
