Witness tells Garda Colm Horkan murder trial they heard sounds 'like shootings'

Another witness said one of the men seemed “really agitated” and she heard him “dare the armed squad to come down here”

Stephen Silver (pictured) has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det. Gda Horkan on June 17, 2020, at Castlerea, Co. Roscommon. File picture

A man who lives near to where Detective Garda Colm Horkan was shot dead witnessed "odd behaviour", roaring and shouting and two people driving dangerously on a motorbike shortly before he heard a series of “pops” that he thought might be gunshots, a murder trial has heard.

Paul McGarry told the trial of Stephen Silver, who denies murdering the detective, that he also heard one of the men shouting, “come out ye cunts”. Another witness, Laura McIntyre, said one of the men seemed “really agitated” and she heard him “dare the armed squad to come down here” before saying something about a “sniper to get a good shot and something about machine guns”.