Garda murder-accused's psychotic symptoms at 'extreme end', court told

Psychiatrist told trial as a consequence of his mental illness, Stephen Silver’s capacity was 'significantly impaired' at the time of the shooting of Garda Colm Horkan

In her evidence to the jury, Dr Brenda Wright outlined several psychiatric admissions, both voluntary and involuntary, many of which occurred after Stephen Silver, pictured, had stopped taking his medication. File picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins 

Garda murder-accused Stephen Silver in the past experienced psychotic symptoms that were on the “extreme end” of his bipolar affective disorder, while he is also alleged to have also previously threatened and assaulted hospital staff, a forensic psychiatrist has told his trial.

Giving evidence to defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC on Tuesday, Dr Brenda Wright, interim clinical director at the Central Mental Hospital, confirmed that during one hospital admission in 2003, Mr Silver was diagnosed as being “manic with psychotic symptoms”.