A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a man accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea over two years ago.
The jury of seven men and five women told the judge this afternoon they were unable to reach a verdict after three days of deliberations at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin in the last few minutes.
They had been deliberating the case since Tuesday afternoon. The 46-year-old motorbike mechanic, of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, denied murdering the detective in June 2020, but had pleaded guilty to his manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
Earlier today the judge, Paul McDermott, informed the jury that he would accept a majority verdict on four possible verdicts; capital murder, murder, manslaughter, or manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
Extensive evidence was heard in relation to his psychiatric history and he claims he was suffering a relapse of bipolar affective disorder when he shot Det Colm Horan. His plea wasn't accepted and the prosecution called their own expert, who was of the view that he had "significant functional mental capacity" at the time.
The matter is due back before the court on December 9th next for further instructions from the DPP.
