Stephen Silver was 'out of touch with reality' after Garda Colm Horkan shooting, says doctor

State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan also told the court that Detective Garda Colm Horkan was shot 11 times

During the opening of the trial, prosecution counsel Michael Delaney SC told the jury that the defence will argue that Stephen Silver (pictured) was having a relapse of his mental health issues at the time of the shooting and that his culpability is therefore substantially reduced. File picture

Stephen Silver, whose defence will argue that he was suffering from a relapse of a mental illness when he shot Detective Garda Colm Horkan, was "out of touch with reality" in the hours after the shooting, a doctor has told the Central Criminal Court.

Dr Greg Kelly, a general practitioner, told defence counsel Roisin Lacey SC that he spoke to Mr Silver in the early hours at Castlerea garda station shortly after the shooting. The doctor was concerned that the accused was hitting his head off the cell wall and said he "came to the fairly rapid decision that this man is not well. He wasn't reacting normally for someone involved in such a tragic and serious event."