Suspect arrested in Castlerea shooting case reported to be a local mechanic with a history of serious mental conditions.
This is the man in garda custody on suspicion of the murder of brave Detective Garda Colm Horkan.
Mechanic Stephen Silver, 43, is being held after Det Horkan was gunned down in Castlerea, Co Roscommon at 11.45pm on Wednesday night in a crime that has shocked the country.
The 49-year-old detective had stopped a man on a moped after receiving a report of someone acting suspiciously in the town.
It is understood the man attacked the garda and grabbed his official Garda issue Sig Sauer pistol before firing 15 rounds at the officer, hitting him multiple times.
Shocked colleagues of Det Horkan were just five minutes walk away in Castlerea Garda Station and heard the shots before running to his aid.
Two officers then managed to overpower the killer, who had gunned down their colleague in cold blood with his own gun.
An ambulance was on the scene in minutes but Det Horkan was fatally injured and died from his wounds at the scene.
Stephen Silver is from the Castlerea area and had recently returned from the UK.
He has minor convictions, including for road traffic and public order, and was involved in half a dozen mental health incidents, garda sources said.
Sources said the killer stood over the garda’s body after shooting him dead and made no attempt to get away.
All 15 rounds from the Sig Sauer handgun were fired. The tragic garda was hit at least six times; other rounds went through a bank and shop window in the town centre.
This morning the suspect, being held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, did press ups whilst in Garda custody.
The news of the callous killing has sent shock waves through the entire garda force and rocked Colm’s home town of Charlestown, Co Mayo, where he was a GAA star.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “It is correct to say that it is an attack upon society.”
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