There is a “real palpable sense of grief” in Detective Garda Colm Horkan’s home-town of Charlestown in County Mayo after he was shot to death yesterday.
The 49-year-old was shot dead with his own gun in Castlerea County Roscommon late on Wednesday night.
Gardaí are continuing to question a man in his 40s in connection with the killing.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, family friend and former Mayo footballer John Casey said Detective Horkan was “rock in every sense of the word.”
“He was a really good friend to everybody in our community,” he said. “He was a teammate of mine for years. I soldiered with him in the green and white of Charlestown for many years.
“He was just everything that a person should be proud of as a human being – as a footballer as a teammate and as a friend. We are shook to the core here this morning.”
“Devastated”
He said the family is “devastated” and was in shock until the early hours of the morning last night.
“I think the reality will kick in this morning, they were probably in nearly zombie mode until the early hours of the morning,” he said.
“I was just talking to the dad Marty and he was just telling me that before Colm left for work on Wednesday, they watched, I don’t know what time the races were on in Ascot, but Colm had a keen interest in the horses and they watched whatever race was on just before he left for work.
“That will be his dad’s final memory of him.”
A Garda at the scene where Detective Garda Colm Horkan was shot dead in Castlerea, County Roscommon, 18-06-2020. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images"Top-class man"
Charlestown GAA spokesperson Stephen Healy he was a great friend.
“He was a top-class man,” he said.
“In and out of work, on and off the field of play, he had many characteristics you would like to identify in any quality human being.
“He was decent, he was generous, he was loyal, he was hard-working and if Colm had your back you certainly wouldn’t lack for anything in terms of friendship.”
"Loyal comrade"
He said there isn’t a household in the town that Detective Horkan “wouldn’t have touched in some way, shape or form.”
“He was the type of guy, if you asked him for €100, he would give it to you there and then. He wouldn’t ask for it back tomorrow. He’d say give it to me when you can.
“If you were stuck in the middle of the night, he would be the first man to be there on the scene helping you out.
“He was a great friend and a loyal comrade and really, when the body comes back to the house today, I think it will really hit home.
“There is a real palpable sense of grief in the town. It is going to take the community a long time to get over this but we are strong and we will help and support the family in any way we can.”
Vigil
Hundreds of people gathered in the pouring rain to attend a vigil for him in the town last night.
The 49-year-old spent 24 years as a member of An Garda Síochána. He is survived by his father, sister and four brothers.
Books of condolence have been opened for him in Garda Stations all around the country.
