The first evidence in the trial of a man accused of the murder of Detective Garda in Roscommon two years ago, will be heard on Monday.
Stephen Silver of Aughaward, Foxford, Mayo is accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on the 17th of June, 2020.
The trial got underway this afternoon at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin with opening statements from the prosecution to the jury.
With all that's going on in the world with the police, I shot him'.... the words of the accused during his arrest according to Garda Helen Gillen.
Mr Silver has plead not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Horkan but guilty to manslaughter via diminished responsibility.
In his opening argument today, Michael Delaney SC for the prosecution stated that on 17th of June 2020, Mr Silver had stated his intent to lodge a complaint over Garda treatment of a friend.
Following his stop at the public office of the Castlerea Garda Station, Mr Silver and a friend travelled to Foxford, County Mayo, where the accused worked as a motorbike mechanic.
The two are said to have loaded a bike into Mr Silver's van before returning to Castlerea and riding it on the green of the Knockroe estate in the town.
According to the prosecution, this led to two complaints to Gardaí from residents.
Close to midnight, the pair left the estate and walked into the town via Patrick street.
Dectective Horkan had come on duty at 2pm and was issued a standard issue Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistol and a grey unmarked Hyundai car.
He encountered Mr Silver and his friend on their way into town on Patrick Street near midnight.
According to the prosecution, Detective Horkin pulled over and addressed the pair, with Silver sticking his head through the car window before the Garda subsequently exited the vehicle and approached the accused.
It's alleged that an altercation ensued after Dectective Horkan informed the accused he was being arrested for assault, that then turned into a struggle for the detective's gun.
The prosecution continued that following a close range shot that injured Colm Horkan causing him to roll away, he was then shot 11 times, with the gun's 15 round magazine emptied.
According to responding Gardaí, Silver was seen throwing the weapon away before complying with Garda instructions to get on the ground.
He claimed that he had felt Detective Horkan 'go for something' and saw the pistol and holster before grabbing it as he said he feared for his life.
In a statement to arresting gardaí, he said ' he was angry about it, that a Garda had tried to kill him'.
The case returns on Monday Morning at 11 O'clock with the first witnesses set to take the stand.
