Fiosrú opens investigation into death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan

The late Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

Garda watchdog Fiosrú has opened an investigation into the death of former Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

Mr Horkan was shot 11 times on June 17, 2020, after his assailant took his firearm while he was on duty in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Stephen Silver was convicted of murdering Mr Horkan in 2023.

Last month, Mr Horkan's family renewed calls for an inquiry into his death, specifically raising concerns about the holster he was wearing at the time.

The family said: “Several people, including protected disclosers, have stated repeatedly that it was known that this holster was faulty, that it was not fit for purpose, had been made by a saddlery and that complaints and disclosures had been made concerning the holster.”  

The family's calls for action referenced previous issues with the holster worn by Mr Horkan on the night of his death. Six days before Mr Horkan was murdered, a garda accidentally shot himself outside of the Israeli embassy in Dublin. 

The Horkan family said the injured Garda "suffered life-changing injuries by reason of this faulty holster."

"It was made of pliable leather. It did not have the necessary stability to prevent movement and removal of the gun from the holster.”

Detective Superintendent Brian O’Reilly, who appeared on a RTÉ documentary concerning whistleblowers in An Garda Síochána, previously made a protected disclosure about the holsters and the faults that had been detected.

The Fiosrú investigation into Mr Horkan's death comes amid concerns about protected disclosures within An Garda Síochána.

In a statement, Fiosrú said it had received a request from justice minister Jim O'Callaghan to conduct an independent investigation into the safety and suitability of the firearm holster used by Mr Horkan at the time of his death.

Mr O'Callaghan made the request for a public interest investigation in a letter to Police Ombudsman Emily Logan on Monday, November 2, 2026.

The Police Ombudsman has been in contact with Mr Horkan’s family.