Labour TD claims murdered Detective Garda Colm Horkan's holster was 'defective'

Undated handout photo issued by gardaí of Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

Labour TD Alan Kelly raised concerns in the Dáil on Tuesday about the leather pistol holster worn by murdered Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

Detective Garda Horkan was killed in Castlerea, Co Roscommon almost five years ago. 

He was shot dead by Stephen Silver who used the detective's official firearm on June 17, 2020.

Mr Silver was later sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in prison.

Speaking in the Daíl earlier, Mr Kelly raised a specific concern over “dangerously defective leather pistol holsters” which were in use until March 2023.

Mr Kelly said he was aware that Detective Garda Horkan was wearing a "defective" leather holster from an equine saddlery in Co. Kildare, and he questioned why it was never sent for ballistic examination.

According to the Tipperary North TD, the same type of holster was in use during a serious incident days before when a Garda's gun was accidentally discharged outside the Israeli Embassy.

The incident occurred on June 11, 2020 and the member suffered life-changing injuries.

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Alan Kelly speaking to the media at Leinster House.

Mr Kelly said the pouch was "so dangerously defective that the holster could actually engage the trigger and fire the weapon of its own accord." 

A ballistic expert also found that "the holster was so poorly designed the firearm could be removed from the holster with the so-called retention strap fully fastened."

"This obviously left the gun open to removal by individuals other than the garda member carrying the firearm," Mr Kelly added.

According to the TD, An Garda Síochána is currently a “force in crisis”.

He described recruitment and retention of officers as being in “total crisis”, said officers lack basic equipment and added that morale generally among the ranks is “on the floor”.

He went on to claim that gardaí did not believe the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris or the last Government would have their backs, and also criticised the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) as not being “fit for purpose”.

Mr Kelly also went on to raise an issue of “392 abandoned firearms left in a container in Garda headquarters”, querying how they were stored.

He said he had “many more issues … some of them very serious indeed” to raise with the minister.

Mr Kelly emphasised that he believes the Irish public has huge support and respect for gardaí.

“But it is a force that I believe is in crisis,” he told TDs, describing “huge issues across the board”.

“I don’t believe, unless there are radical changes, that there is a hope of reaching targets set.

“Trainees aren’t paid enough, wages and pensions won’t entice people to join.

“€40,000 might seem like a lot of money, but coming to Dublin for €40,000 if you’re from down the country, and trying to live here isn’t enticing.

“Gardaí lack basic equipment, sick leave isn’t being covered, drugs and community Garda units are being filled but there is no backfilling, current Garda divisions aren’t working, 999 call system to Cork is nuts, it’s just a joke.

“Simply put, morale is on the floor.”