The trial of a man accused of the capital murder of a Detective Garda in Castlerea over two years will enter its fourth week today.
Stephen Silver, of Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Colm Horkan on June 17th in on Main Street Castlerea - but guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
The court has already seen three recorded interviews conducted with the 46-year-old in connection with the fatal shooting.
They have heard the accused state that he fired the gun until it stopped and that the incident unfolded after an alleged attack on him by the late Detective Garda.
He also claimed that he did not know the Charlestown native was a Garda as he was wearing a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and that the two became embroiled in a physical altercation after the detective Garda went for his gun
The jury also heard complaint from Mr Silver in relation to his treatment in custody and Covid 19 concerns he had.
In her evidence, State Pathologist, Dr Linda Mulligan outlined that Detective Horkan suffered 11 gun shot wounds to his abdomen, neck, arm and leg. She also described bruising around the eye and temple of Colm Horkan which the court heard were the result of a blow with the butt of a pistol by Stephen Silver.
The court also heard evidence from Dr GregKkelly, who attended Mr Silver while he was in custody and how the 46-year-old motorbike mechanic told him that he had been ok up until Covid, describing the then six months of the pandemic as having caused everything to go wrong with his mental health.
Day twelve of the trial will get underway in the Central Criminal Court this morning in front of a jury of seven men and five women.
