Silver will serve a minimum sentence of 40 years

After two trials at the Central Criminal Court, a jury has found Stephen Silver, who shot Garda Colm Horkan 11 times with his own gun, guilty of capital murder

In his closing address to the jury on Friday, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC said the shooting of Garda Horkan was “not a rational act” and there was no rational basis or motivation for what happened.

Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gda Horkan knowing or being reckless as to whether he was a member of An Garda Siochana acting in accordance with his duty at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on June 17th, 2020.

Marian Bruen told the murder trial jury that she “knew immediately” Mr Silver wasn’t himself during a phone call on June 16th, 2020 and said there were numerous “red flags” during the call

Mr Silver is on trial for the murder of Gda Horkan at Castlerea, Co Roscommon on June 17th, 2020

Footage from three interviews conducted with Mr Silver on June 19th, 2020 was viewed by the trial jury on Monday

The jury in the trial of Stephen Silver, heard on Thursday that the accused spat in a garda’s face, attempted to grab another garda by the throat, and urinated on the floor of his cell after he was arrested.

The jury in the trial of Stephen Silver (46), of Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo, also heard on Thursday that the accused went to the garda station earlier in the day, where he delivered an “angry rant” about the supposed abuse of his friend during a garda raid

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It would be 'unsafe' to convict Stephen Silver of the murder of Garda Colm Horkan, a barrister has told the Central Criminal Court

Dr Brenda Wright told Stephen Silver's trial that he had been admitted to psychiatric units 17 times, dating back to 1997, prior to the shooting in 2019

Stephen Silver has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Garda Colm Horkan in June 2020

Garda Colm Horkan, who was shot dead two years ago, helped to have the man accused of his murder admitted to a psychiatric unit in 2003, the Central Criminal Court has heard