Garda murder-accused believed he was 'the second coming of Jesus'

Stephen Silver gave evidence in his trial for the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, telling the court of mental health episodes he has experienced since the age of 19

Stephen Silver told the court that earlier on the day Garda Colm Horkan was shot he was at a hotel where he met three men he believed were part of the SAS and he was so paranoid and scared that he checked under his own van for explosives. File picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Stephen Silver has told the Central Criminal Court, where he is on trial accused of the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, of mental health episodes he has experienced since the age of 19, on one occasion believing himself to be “the second coming of Jesus”.

The jury in the trial of Mr Silver, 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, also heard that earlier on the day Garda Horkan was shot 11 times with his own gun, the accused said he was at a hotel where he met three men he believed were part of the SAS and he was so paranoid and scared that he checked under his own van for explosives.