Horkan family demands public inquiry into alleged faulty holster
The relatives of murdered Garda Colm Horkan have called for a public inquiry, citing reports that a defective holster may have contributed to his death.
On June 17, 2020, Detective Garda Colm Horkan was fatally shot in Castlerea after his attacker obtained his gun, which had been carried in a leather holster. The Horkan family now seeks a public inquiry, arguing that a series of reports indicate the holster was defective and not fit for purpose. They note that protected disclosures have repeatedly highlighted the holster’s instability, and that a similar incident involving another Garda occurred six days earlier.
The family has approached the Garda Commissioner, former Justice Minister Helen McEntee and current Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan, but says they have received no substantive response. Former Technical Bureau chief Brian O’Reilly had previously reported the holster’s flaws, though senior management later downplayed the risk. The family believes an inquiry is the only way to uncover the truth behind the equipment failure and Horkan’s murder.
Why it matters
It raises questions about police equipment safety and accountability in Ireland.
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