Garda murder-accused 'kept shooting until there was no ammunition left'

Stephen Silver told the court he struck Garda Horkan with the butt of the gun after the first shots were fired, saying he believed the garda was 'a heavy down from Dublin', who was trying to kill him

Stephen Silver has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Garda Horkan but guilty to manslaughter. File picture: Michael McCormack/PA

“I kept shooting until the gun finished and there was no ammunition left,” Stephen Silver has told the Central Criminal Court, describing the moment he killed Garda Colm Horkan with the garda’s own gun.

The jury in the trial of Mr Silver, 46, of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, also heard Mr Silver struck Garda Horkan with the butt of the gun after the first shots were fired, saying he believed the garda was “a heavy down from Dublin” who was trying to kill him.