'Unsafe' to convict Stephen Silver of murder, court told

Defence counsel tells jury there is evidence that accused was suffering from a relapse of his bipolar disorder at time Detective Garda Colm Horkan was shot dead

Detective Garda Colm Horkan. 

It would be "unsafe" to convict Stephen Silver of the murder of Garda Colm Horkan given the evidence that he was suffering from a relapse of his mental disorder at the time of the shooting, a barrister has told the Central Criminal Court.

In her closing speech, Roisin Lacey SC, for the defence, asked the jury to consider the evidence of consultant psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright who told the trial that Mr Silver's responsibility for the shooting was diminished by a relapse of his bipolar affective disorder.