Fiosrú asked to investigate holster used by murdered garda

The garda watchdog has been asked to investigate the suitability of a holster issued to a garda who was murdered with his own gun.

Detective Garda Colm Horkan was aged 49 when he was murdered while on duty in 2020.

He was shot several times with his own gun on June 17 2020 in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

Steven Silver, of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, was found guilty of his murder in 2023.

Concerns have been raised in the Dáil that Mr Horkan had allegedly been issued with a defective holster.

His family is seeking a public inquiry into the circumstances of his death.

Aontú has brought a motion to the Dáil calling for the constitution of a full independent public inquiry into the alleged defective holsters and associated protected disclosures.

However, the Government is to table a counter motion with the Department of Justice citing assurances from gardaí in 2023 that the holsters are no longer in use.

The Government approved the countermotion which also notes several ongoing legal processes over the matters, with a spokesperson saying a public inquiry is therefore not being considered “at this time”.

The countermotion also notes that Minister Jim O’Callaghan has requested that Fiosrú investigate the safety and suitability of the firearm holster used by Garda Horkan at the time of the incident.

It says this is to establish through an independent external investigation whether the holster gave rise to any operational or safety concerns.