Jim O’Callaghan may consider inquiry into Garda holsters after Horkan appeal and inquest
Ireland’s justice minister responded to Detective Garda Colm Horkan’s family after they called for an independent public inquiry into concerns about gun holsters and protected disclosures.
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said on 16 October that he would consider a public inquiry into concerns about Garda gun holsters if questions remain after Detective Garda Colm Horkan’s inquest and Stephen Silver’s appeal. His response follows the Horkan family’s call for an independent inquiry into concerns raised before the detective was killed in Castlerea, County Roscommon, in 2020.
Speaking in Templemore, O’Callaghan said an appeal judgment was awaited and that he would consider whether an inquiry was required after that judgment and the inquest. He did not announce an inquiry. He said Silver, who was convicted of Horkan’s murder, was the only person responsible for it.
Why Colm Horkan’s family wants an inquiry
Horkan, 43, was shot dead in June 2020 after Silver took the detective’s gun from its holster while Horkan was on patrol. The family says concerns about the holster had been raised repeatedly and that it was known to be faulty and unfit for purpose. Whether a defect contributed to Horkan’s death has not been established in the reports of those claims.
The family said it had no confidence it would learn the truth without an independent public inquiry. It wants scrutiny of how concerns were handled, including those raised through protected disclosures. TheJournal.ie reported that the family had met former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and sought answers from Garda leaders and current and former justice ministers.
TheJournal.ie also reported that Detective Superintendent Brian O’Reilly alleged on an RTÉ Investigates programme that the holster was defective and contributed to Horkan’s murder. That remains an attributed allegation, separate from Silver’s conviction.
Commissioner and civil liberties group respond
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he had contacted the family and intended to meet them to discuss their concerns. He said deciding whether to hold a public inquiry was outside his remit.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties urged the minister to heed the family’s call. It said questions remained about the procurement, use and replacement of holsters, what Garda authorities knew about concerns, and how disclosures were handled. O’Callaghan’s stated next step depends on the appeal judgment and inquest being completed, and on whether questions remain unanswered afterward.
Read in depth: World
First Guangdong yachts arrive in Hong Kong under new southbound scheme
Five yachts from Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Guangzhou entered Hong Kong under new cross-boundary rules for mainland leisure vessels.
UK ban on specified strangulation and incest pornography takes effect in November
The government says new offences covering possession and publication of specified pornography will take effect in England and Wales on 6 November.
Sources and context
- Minister to consider inquiry into garda gun holstersRTÉ News
- Family of murdered garda Colm Horkan call for public inquiryTheJournal.ie
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.