Family of murdered garda Colm Horkan call for public inquiry into his death

Call comes after numerous reports of defective holsters issued to gardaí — which his family believe may have contributed to Detective Garda Colm Horkan's murder

Numerous reports suggest Detective Garda Colm Horkan had been issued with a faulty holster and that it may have contributed to his death — his gun was seized by Stephen Silver who shot him 11 times on June 17, 2020.

The family of murdered garda Colm Horkan has called for a public inquiry into events surrounding his death after a series of reports that a faulty gun holster may have contributed to his death. 

The Horkan family issued a statement pointing out that there have been numerous reports that Detective Garda Horkan had been issued with a faulty holster on the night he was attacked. 

The garda was shot 11 times on June 17, 2020, while on duty in Castlerea after his assailant got possession of his gun. 

Stephen Silver was subsequently convicted of the murder and is serving a life sentence.

The Horkan family pointed out that for years they have been hearing that there were issues around the holster Colm was using.

“Several people, including protected disclosers, have stated repeatedly that it was known that this holster was faulty, that it was not fit for purpose, had been made by a saddlery and that complaints and disclosures had been made concerning the holster.” 

Another garda injured 'due to holster'

The statement references another garda who accidentally shot himself while on duty six days before the murder. 

The Irish Examiner has previously reported on this garda who was on duty outside the Israeli embassy in Dublin. 

According to the Horkan family statement, he “suffered life-changing injuries by reason of this faulty holster. It was made of pliable leather. It did not have the necessary stability to prevent movement and removal of the gun from the holster.” 

The family pointed out they met former commissioner Drew Harris. 

“We have continuously sought answers from the Commissioner but also from former Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD and Mr Jim O'Callaghan TD Minister for Justice,” the statement reads.

Detective Superintendent Brian O’Reilly, whose case was raised in the Dáil earlier today, Thursday, did make a protected disclosure about the holsters and the faults that had been detected. 

O’Reilly was head of the Garda Technical Bureau at the time but examination of the holster following Garda Horkan’s death was handed to others outside the bureau which would normally have done that work. 

An examination of the holster of the injured garda who shot himself showed up some serious flaws. 

A file picture of armed gardaí. A number of reports have suggested that some holsters supplied to gardaí including Detective Garda Colm Horkan may have been defective. Now his family is calling for a public inquiry into those holster. File picture: Dan Linehan

However, a second opinion was sought by senior management in the force and that concluded the flaws were not life threatening.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner tonight, Thursday, Garda Horkan’s brother Dermot said the family now believe a public inquiry is the only way at finding out the truth as to what may have contributed to Colm’s murder.

“That’s the only avenue we have left to explore,” Dermot Horkan said. “We haven’t really had any interaction with An Garda Síochána about it, we’ve never been told anything. The whistleblowers who have been in the media all seem to have information that the holster wasn’t fit for purpose.

“Colm is a tremendous loss to us,” he said. 

“Guards should be able to go to work with proper equipment and should be able to go home at the end of their shift. Procedures and polices are supposed to be in place for all that. 

"Every day is a heartbreak day we have to endure since Colm was taken from us. We just want to know the truth.”