Details of the hours after the arrest of a man now charged with the capital murder of a Detective Garda in Roscommon two years ago have been heard in his trial.
Stephen Silver, of Foxford, Mayo while fighting the charge of murder has pleaded guilty to Manslaughter due to Diminished Responsibility
Detective Garda Colm Horkin was shot dead in Castlerea close to midnight on the 17th of June, 2020.
Daniel Considine reports from the Central Criminal Court:
Garda Dara O' Reilly was the member in charge of Castlerea Garda Station on the night of the 17th, and took custody of Stephen Silver when he was brought to the station following the shooting. Garda O'Reilly described the accused as agitated and uncooperative on firstarriving at the station. On filling out paperwork and having his rights as a prisoner read to him, Garda O'Reilly stated that near to the end of the process, Mr Silver stated that he did not want the records to be filled out in English and requested them in Irish. Garda records show Mr Silver identified himself as Bi-polar and requested a docter to examine him and help with medication. On contacting WestDoc, Garda Dara O'Reilly spoke to a doctor who refused to attend, but following other efforts, a Dr Kelly arrived at the station in the early hours fo the morning.
According to the Defence, Garda statements show Dr Kelly as advising a second opinion and a psychiatric exam of Mr Silver. At 3am, Garda Emmet Mulligan, based at Boyle Garda Station at the time, took over member in charge duties at the station, having arrived following radio reports shortly after the shooting. Over the next several hours, Garda Mulligan checked on and engaged with Mr Silver in his cell, with the I/C stating that at 3.15 he witnessed Stephen Silver urinating on the floor of the cell. During the morning, the accused was said to have been initially uncooperative, at one point refusing to hand over his clothes for evidence. Following discussion with Gardaí in the station, Mr Silver retracted his refusal and cooperated with Garda to provide his clothes for examination. Over the course of the next number of hours, The Boyle based garda brought food and beverages to Stephen Silver before being relieved of his post at 7am, with a calm appearing Silver thanking him for his help.
Finishing out the evidence today before resumption on Monday, the Jury were shown a compilations of CCTV footage from the days leading up to the 17th, including the the moments before the shooting itself
