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LAST UPDATE | 18 Jun 2020
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said that the garda who died after being shot in Co Roscommon last night “gave his life protecting the community”.
Detective Garda Colm Horkan died following an incident in Castlerea which happened shortly before midnight. He was on duty at the time.
It is believed that his official firearm was taken from him as he was on patrol and he was shot with it.
A man aged in his 40s was arrested at the scene and is currently detained in Castlerea Garda Station.
“Last night we lost a member of An Garda Síochána in the most tragic of circumstances and today a nation is grieving, ” the Taoiseach said outside Government Buildings.
I’ve spoken to the Garda Commissioner earlier today and the Minister of Justice and we’re in touch with the family of Detective Colm Horkan to offer our condolences and support. I extend that also to all of his colleagues in Castlerea Garda Station to every member of An Garda Síochána, his friends and all who knew him.
“Colm gave his life protecting the community he had served with distinction and courage during his 24 years as a member of An Garda Síochána. His story is the same as the thousands of men and women who wear the uniform. A story of courage, sacrifice and service,” the Taoiseach added.
Our gardaí are our guardians of the peace and defenders of the rule of law and they are role models in our society. This tragedy is a heart-wrenching reminder of how much we owe our gardaí for the work that they do all over the country. They protect and serve our citizens, our communities and our country, every day putting themselves in the front line of crime prevention on behalf of all of us.
Community
Following the death of the Detective Garda, locals in Castlerea have been telling of their deep shock when they woke to the news that the popular and well-known garda had died in such a violent manner.
Detective Garda Colm Horkan is originally from Mayo and had been a member of An Garda Siochána since 1995 and was a detective based in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, which is in the Castlerea district.
“Detective Garda Colm Horkan is the 89th member of An Garda Síochána killed in the line of duty,” Commissioner Drew Harris said.
“Today is a terrible reminder of the significant sacrifices, including the ultimate sacrifice, that gardaí make to keep people safe.”
The Garda Representative Association described him as an “experienced detective greatly respected by colleagues”.
He is survived by his father, sister and four brothers.
The scene at the junction of Patrick Street and Main Street in Castlerea remains sealed off pending a forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau.
A post-mortem will be carried out later today by the State Pathologist. The incident has been referred to the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) as it involved an official Garda firearm.
An Garda Siochána has asked for privacy for the man’s family.
“It is with deepest sadness An Garda Siochána confirms the death of our colleague, resulting from fatal gunshot wounds received during an incident in Castlerea shortly before midnight,” a statement from An Garda Siochána said.
“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”
Gardaí have also appealed for witnesses or anyone with information or dash cam footage to contact the incident room in Castlerea Garda station on 094 962 1635.
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RIP. It’s a hard job. Undervalued and underpaid.
This is just absolutely awful. Rest in peace sir. Thank you & all your colleagues for your dedication and service in the face of seemingly increasing violence.
This is absolutely shocking news just reaching us from castlerea co Roscommon that a member of Garda siocaon was shot carrying out his duties to the state may he rest in peace
Government needs to properly legislate against attacks on blue light service personnel. Mandatory sentences up to and including life with no parole.
Personally,something like this,I’d prefer reintroduction of the dangling method,but that’s my own views…..but Ireland needs to introduce harsh penalties for any attacks against Gardai, firecrews, ambulance crews and medical personnel.
@Michael Wynne: totally agree – id bring back hanging for this. Dreadful news. RIP Garda
@Michael Wynne: Need to introduce harsh penalties far any shooting or stabbing etc. attacks against another human
@Michael Wynne: prison officers?
@Michael Wynne: let’s hear the details first. Was this shooting incident a murder? Either way. Very sad RIP.
@Stephen Duffy: yes it was.
@Stephen Duffy: yes, RTE say it’s being treated as a murder and a man had been arrested
RIP.
That is not on. An example needs to be made. RIP
Shocking!
This is so very, very sad. Rest in peace sir. Thank you & all your colleagues for your dedication and service in the face of seemingly increasing violence.
This is shocking Rip. Hope the person gets prosecuted and the family gets justice
RIP Garda you’ve served your country well. Thoughts are with your family.
“Step forward now, policeman,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in hell.”
That is not on. An example needs to be made. We can’t put up with that.
RIP
R.I.P.
Other news sources are saying that it was an armed Detective and he had his gun taken away from him during a scuffle and was shot a number of times with it. An arrest has been made.
Bring back Capital punishment
@Alan O’Donoghue: but it did go away, was removed from statute in 1990. Capital offences are now “supposed” to carry mandatory 40yr sentences, as far as I know anyway.
@Alan O’Donoghue: it did go away. There was a referendum in 2001 which meant it cannot be reintroduced ever.
@Conor Egan: capital punishment was commuted for the last time in 1984 by Edmund Hillary by public opinion. It cannot be commuted to any less than 40 year’s imprisonment
@Alan O’Donoghue: yes it did
@Alan O’Donoghue: look up the 2001 referendum. There is no capital punishment sentence any longer. There was cases of it being commuted prior to that as you’ve stated.
@JohnnyMc: yes it did what?
@Noel Donohue: Capital punishment and long prison sentences. Zilch evidence they work as a deterrent. EU imprisonment rate per 100,000. about 100.(varies from 65 to 120, Ireland 84) In USA its 700( much higher for blacks) So with capital punishment and longest prison terms in the developed world they still lead in rates of crime..
@Alan O’Donoghue: you might be too young to remember the referendum to remove capital punishment. It no longer exists on the Irish Statue books.
Jesus Christ. God rest his soul. RIP
Shocking,Rest in peace,condolences to the family and colleagues.
RIP … condolences to family friends and colleagues.. it’s a sad day … too many Gaurds loosing lives..
Poor man. Just doing his job.
Rest In Peace
RIP
RIP. Condolences to his family and colleagues. Horrendous news.
Devastating
RIP, Shocking
Shocking. Arm them all. Camera them all and zero tolerance
This is horrific. Sincere condolences to the member and his family. RIP
What a horrible headline to wake up to, may he rest in peace.
My condolences to his Family, colleagues and friends.
RIP just shows what a tough job Gardaí have as so many dangerous people out there and they never know what to expect..
R.I.P DUTY DONE.
FAMILY ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS.
RIP such sad news
Condolences to this mans family, friends, service and Roscommon from over the water. May he Rest In Peace
That poor man could not have expected his day to end like this, God help his family. The Garda Síochána have the respect of 99% of the Irish people and will feel horrified that this Garda has been murdered while carrying out his duties. It has been proved that the death penalty is not a deterrent in crimes that were not planned in advance, and only serve to satisfy our understandable need for revenge. We must be better than that and try and avoid it happening again. R I P this Garda member.
Shocking news. Deepest condolences to family and co
lleagues at this sad time. R. I. P.
Go ndeana Dia grasta ar a anam dílis.
So very sad. May he rest in peace. Respect.
R.I.P.
Sincere condolences to the entire family so sad may he R.I.P
RIP.
Very sad news. Prayers and thoughts going to his family, friends and colleagues.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
OMG what is going on in this country the 3 muppets that want to get into office would want to sort things out as quickly as possible
Condolences to his family RIP
So sad condolences to his family may he Rest In Peace
RIP
May he Rest in Peace
Declan Keaveney
R.I.P.
This is sad.. rip.
Terrible news
This is just awful news. . The poor man .. killed doing his job .. his poor family friends and colleagues.. RIP ..
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