Independent probe sought into 'dangerously defective' garda holster worn by murdered Mayo detective Colm Horkan

AN Garda Síochána has responded to claims that a defective gun holster was a contributory factor in the tragic death by murder by shooting of 46-year-old Mayo Detective Garda Colm Horkan in Castlerea on June 17, 2020.

An appeal has been made in Dáil Éireann in the aftermath of last Wednesday's RTÉ Investigates programme which made serious allegations about the culture within An Garda Síochána and that members of the force's whistleblower unit were undermined and penalised in their efforts to initiate reforms.

Speaking in Dáil Éireann, Sinn Féin Deputy Pearse Dohery said one issue brought the human consequences of all of the allegations into particular stark focus, the garda holsters which were dangerously defective.

He stated: "Just six days before Detective Garda Colm Horkan was murdered, another garda suffered life-changing injuries when his firearm discharged while it was in one of these holsters. Detective Garda Colm Horkan was murdered after his own firearm was taken from his holster and used to kill him.

"It has been suggested that this was only possible because the holster was defective. The holsters were supplied not by a specialist firearms manufacturer but by a maker of saddles for horses.

"When the protected disclosure office sought the assistance of retired lieutenant colonel Ray Lane, an experienced weapons expert, Garda management intervened and blocked it.

"Lane was not appointed and the authority of Rose Sweeney (a serving civilian principal officer who acted as a part-time protected disclosures manager), who had discretion to make that decision, was badly undermined."

Also speaking during a parliamentary debate, Labour Party TD Alan Kelly said: "I am thinking of the family of Colm Horkan. I have met them several times, and I know others here have too. They are broken. They are devastated. He should never have been wearing that version of this holster that night.

"The State let him and his family down. Someone has to stand up for them. Collectively, as a chamber - opposition or government, it does not really matter - we all have to stand up for them.

"Will the government - I mean this - finally do the right thing and sanction an independent investigation into everything to do with how faulty holsters like this were given to our brave men and women serving as gardaí across the country? I know that is what the family wants. I know that is what they deserve."

A statement issued by An Garda Síochána in relation to the matter outlined: "The conviction of Stephen Silver for the capital murder of our colleague Detective Garda Colm Horkan is a matter of fact and public record.

"Following consideration of a comprehensive garda investigation file, the independent Director of Public Prosecutions directed criminal charges against Stephen Silver.

"Criminal trials are carried out in public and evidence adduced by both the prosecution and defence are tested, examined and cross-examined.

"After hearing the evidence, a jury of his peers convicted Stephen Silver of the capital murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

"As such, any matters relating to the capital murder of our colleague Detective Garda Colm Horkan have been examined by a number of independent bodies - the Director of Public Prosecutions, defence senior counsel, prosecution senior counsel, a jury, and the judiciary.

"The (reserved) judgment of the Court of Appeal which heard Mr. Silver’s case earlier this year is awaited. Thus, this matter is also sub-judice at this time.

"As part of the investigation into the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan there was a forensic examination of Detective Garda Horkan’s holster.

"This was done by a forensics expert in Forensic Science Ireland and was referred to at the trial for capital murder of Stephen Silver for which he was found guilty.

"A garda ballistics expert from the Garda National Technical Bureau also gave evidence at this trial on the holster. All evidence at a trial is subject to examination by the defence and prosecution.

"A holster is not regarded as a technical piece of equipment. Following the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, a chief superintendent was appointed to conduct a lessons learned review.

"This review made a number of recommendations including replacing the holster on issue at that time with a more modern holster with a secure automatic locking system.

"The recommendations have been implemented. A tender process for a new holster took place and this process resulted in a new supplier of holsters being retained by An Garda Síochána.

"The family of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PSCA) have all been informed of the above by An Garda Síochána.

"It is a matter of public record that the matter of the garda who was injured on duty is before the civil courts for adjudication.

"An Garda Síochána provided the following information to the PAC: Expenditure on Holsters between 2013–2020 - the duration of the relevant contract - was €89,061.60.

"The holsters were withdrawn over a period of time as new equipment was issued, and members were trained on the new holster and there was tactical training to do with the issue of the new holster."

Former Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said she introduced changes to make sure the oversight within An Garda Síochána was as strong as it could be.

"Coupled with that, in 2020, the Garda anti-corruption unit was established in An Garda Síochána. This was to make sure any wrongdoing within An Garda Síochána was dealt with.

"Through the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, I strengthened the role of the board and the An Garda Síochána audit committee, which now have statutory roles in overseeing the appropriateness, efficiency and effectiveness of procedures in An Garda Síochána dealing with protected disclosures.

"I also produced the legislation that established Fiosrú and the whole reason for that was to make sure that where complaints were made by gardaí about issues in An Garda Síochána, they would be dealt with more quickly. The process was too slow. There were too many elements to it," she added.