Ireland

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris: Detective Colm Horkan was shot with his own pistol in 'random act of violence'

 Detective Garda Colm Horkan
 Detective Garda Colm Horkan  Detective Garda Colm Horkan

A sombre mood has pervaded the town of Castlerea in Co Roscommon following the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

Entrances in and out of the town were sealed off following the shooting incident overnight.

A Garda member was visibly emotional as she laid a bouquet of flowers at the edge of the town.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris arrived shortly before midday where he is expected to visit Mr Horkan’s family and pay his respects.

Mr Harris described Detective Horkan’s death in Castlerea as “a dreadful loss.”

Asked why the incident happened, he said: “The facts as we know them at this time are that this was in effect a conversation between Detective Garda Horkan and a member of the public.

“There was then an altercation during which the service pistol Garda Horkan was carrying was then used against him and he was shot and fatally wounded.”

“He received very prompt medical attention but to no avail. He died from his injuries.”

Mr Harris said it is difficult say whether Detective Horkan knew the person alleged to have shot him.

“Detective Horkan would have spent so much time here and he knew so many people. It would be hard to say who he did not know in the town and the surrounding area.”

Mr Harris described also Detective Horkan’s death as “an attack upon society”.

“I can certainly say at this moment in time that there is no chance at all of a bigger picture in terms of organised crime or a subversive. What we have here is a random act and a violent act which has led to the death of Detective Garda Horkan.”

“It is tragic and it is an attack upon us all. Policing is an extension of good citizenship and we should acknowledge that this demeans and belittles us all. It grieves us all as a society that this has happened. It is not how we view ourselves and it is not how we wish to be seen. You are correct to say it is an attack upon society.”

He said he hopes to meet Detective Horkan’s family in person on Thursday afternoon.

“Obviously I want to convey my own sense of deep sadness to them. We will all be there for them in the days, weeks and months ahead to support them. with the terrible burden that they have to bare.”

Mr Harris said Gardai are appealing for anyone with information about the incident, and for CCTV footage of the scene.

“We understand an image was shared on social media so we are appealing for that as it could be very useful and important to us in this investigation.”

Local Castlerea publican Ollie Hester said he and others in the town are in a “deep state of shock and sadness”.

“He was such a lovely man and so well respected in the community here. He was an absolute gentleman. No one in the town can get over what has happened to him.”

“He was stationed in Castlerea and was only made a detective recently so he had the world at his feet.”

“Just a few weeks ago, he had gone to help my elderly mother and he called up to her house because she was having trouble with her house alarm.

“I told her the news this morning and she was absolutely heartbroken and devastated. She is just distraught as we were only speaking about how nice he was the other day.”

Mr Hester, who owns the Golden Eagle Bar, said customers have contacted him to share their shock and anguish.

“It’s all so sad – no one can believe this has happened. It’s such a tragic event.”