Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all, we have some important news to share. Please follow the link here to find out more!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058419143/important-news/p1?new=1

Detective Garda Colm Horkan killed in Castlerea, Roscommon - [MOD WARNING POST #1]

1…1112141617…32

Comments

  • #392
    joe40
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,813 ✭✭✭joe40


    tayto lover wrote: »
    To me it looks like a mental patient that the Garda knew well but didn’t expect to turn violent without warning. Very sad.

    I was thinking the same. obviously this pure speculation and I know we have scumbag criminal elements that would think nothing of killing a guard but they don't tend to happen like this.
    Maybe in a robbery situation or a targeted hit on a guard but a brawl on a street would not be typical.

    This is in no way trying to justify anything I hope the shooter spends a long time locked up regardless of the background to the shooting.


  • #393
    pauldavis123
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 354 ✭✭pauldavis123


    joe40 wrote: »
    You do realise that BLM and campaigns about defunding police are happening in the US.
    It has nothing to do with this incident.

    As I said before, completely, it's a remarkable coincidence.


  • #394
    Iscreamkone
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,233 ✭✭✭Iscreamkone


    The murderer needs to be off the streets for a long long time. Be that in a mental hospital or a prison.


  • #395
    mikemac2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭mikemac2


    pauldavis123 wrote: »
    It's a remarkable coincidence that an Irish cop gets 15 bullets shot at him, which kill him, just days after Black Lives Matter start a campaigner to defund the police.

    Truly remarkable.

    Minnesota is 6,000 km from ireland

    Pretty irrelevant


  • #396
    rossie1977
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,464 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    pauldavis123 wrote: »
    It's a remarkable coincidence that an Irish cop gets 15 bullets shot at him, which kill him, just days after Black Lives Matter start a campaigner to defund the police.

    Truly remarkable.

    No it's not remarkable.

    It's also almost 40 years to the day that Garda Morley and Byrne based in Castlerea were killed. I could say the killer saw those IRA guys as heroes and wanted to emulate them.

    Neither of course are true


  • Advertisement
  • #397
    StackSteevens
    Closed Accounts Posts: 873 ✭✭✭StackSteevens


    I have just watched the RTE TV news where there was unaniminity in the feeling of shock, sympathy and respect shown to the deceased garda, his family, friends and colleagues.

    One thing that really jarred with me was when the President for Life of Sinn Fein described him as "Colm" - as though she and he were the best of buddies . Now I'm no great fan of Mary Lou at the best of times, but this crassness really enraged me. Every other politician interviewed was able to pay the dead garda the basic courtesy of calling him by his title - but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. What a truly contemptible human being she must be.


  • #398
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 19,178 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    i dont believe you should be posting this here, there is due process


  • #399
    Mr. Karate
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,373 ✭✭✭Mr. Karate


    neris wrote: »
    Give them the army as back up to start off with especially in some areas of Dublin

    Neither Leo or anyone in the main parties has the political will to do that.


  • #400
    Sephiroth_dude
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 81,169 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sephiroth_dude



    Mod

    Do not post any names of suspects, as this is an on going investigation.


  • #401
    Gatling
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,291 ✭✭✭✭Gatling


    Larbre34 wrote: »

    The standard Garda service pistol, the SIG Sauer P226, has no safety catch....

    Its only moving elements are the slide, the magazine release, the de-cocker and the trigger, but it does not have a thumb release safety catch above and beside the trigger guard which is a feature of many other 9mm service pistols.

    The 226 has several safety's most of which are internal ,it's considered to be an extremely safe pistol ,and like the Glocks used by police officers across the world they also don't have external safety's either ,most standard pistols are designed to be operated quickly with ease most safety's are just a slight push up or down by your thumb,

    Still no guarantee the person being arrested wouldn't be able to get hold of it and use it in a struggle ,it's fairly common to happen
    360_F_102352090_ie3kLjDIvgrT1sxVDknWCUh8PxgMYzM7.jpg




  • Advertisement
  • #402
    sdanseo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,273 ✭✭✭sdanseo


    We shouldn't engage in speculation on the suspect because the last thing anyone wants is to compromise any investigation.

    It is fair to say though, the max sentence for this is life with a strong possibility of 40 years and there should be no remission or parole for capital murder. Generally speaking.

    On the weapons discussion, P226 with the hammer down also has a very strong trigger pull unmodified, and is used by US Navy Seals. Have fired P229 realsteel in the US which is very similar. Very hard to accidentally discharge I would have thought, depending on model second should and thereafter could be single action and lighter.

    Unfortunately Gardaí even detectives simply would not be as cautious as other forces e.g. USA as this is extremely rare, but ultimately a weapon being removed from a Garda is a failure of organisation within the Guards, cops should not patrol alone.
    Even in the US where they are trained to constantly protect their firearms and suspect everyone, many are sadly killed while alone.


  • #403
    theoneeyedman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,299 ✭✭✭theoneeyedman


    Firstly huge sympathy to Detective Horkan and his family on this tragic loss.

    Huge questions surrounding this incident sadly. From what I'm hearing in Roscommon, the second person involved has a history of serious mental health problems. Obviously what happened is tragic and wrong, but once again a mental patient has killed someone in this country.

    How many cases have occurred over the last 10/15 years alone with people basically left to their own devices 'in the community' kill someone. It's often a member of their own family, or indeed on several cases several members of the family, that dies,but time it happens to be a member of AGS.

    It's tragic and so sad, because if this guy had got the help he needed, a life could have been saved. Ironically, he'll get all the help he needs now.

    Now is not the time, but longterm AGS must review their procedures on how they handle firearms, when they are engaged, how they are protected, etc..... As bad as this incident was (and it was shockingly bad, I'm not making little of it in any way) it actually have been worse.


  • #404
    walshb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 59,024 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    StackSteevens wrote: »
    I have just watched the RTE TV news where there was unaniminity in the feeling of shock, sympathy and respect shown to the deceased garda, his family, friends and colleagues.

    One thing that really jarred with me was when the President for Life of Sinn Fein described him as "Colm" - as though she and he were the best of buddies . Now I'm no great fan of Mary Lou at the best of times, but this crassness really enraged me. Every other politician interviewed was able to pay the dead garda the basic courtesy of calling him by his title - but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. What a truly contemptible human being she must be.

    As in could not say the word Garda?

    I am no expert on SF, but I know they don't refer to the Republic and they don't ever say Northern Ireland; is there some issue with AGS?


  • #405
    Yurt2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,381 ✭✭✭Yurt2


    Mr. Karate wrote: »
    Neither Leo or anyone in the main parties has the political will to do that.

    It's also a bad idea. We're not exactly in Pablo Escobar's Medellín, and you can't Army Ranger Wing your way out of some of the problems some communities are facing in Dublin in any case.


  • #406
    newuser99999
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 378 ✭✭newuser99999


    StackSteevens wrote: »
    I have just watched the RTE TV news where there was unaniminity in the feeling of shock, sympathy and respect shown to the deceased garda, his family, friends and colleagues.

    One thing that really jarred with me was when the President for Life of Sinn Fein described him as "Colm" - as though she and he were the best of buddies . Now I'm no great fan of Mary Lou at the best of times, but this crassness really enraged me. Every other politician interviewed was able to pay the dead garda the basic courtesy of calling him by his title - but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. What a truly contemptible human being she must be.

    She likes to pretend as if her party doesn’t advocate for the release of Gardaí killers.


  • #407
    ChikiChiki
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,949 ✭✭✭ChikiChiki


    StackSteevens wrote: »
    I have just watched the RTE TV news where there was unaniminity in the feeling of shock, sympathy and respect shown to the deceased garda, his family, friends and colleagues.

    One thing that really jarred with me was when the President for Life of Sinn Fein described him as "Colm" - as though she and he were the best of buddies . Now I'm no great fan of Mary Lou at the best of times, but this crassness really enraged me. Every other politician interviewed was able to pay the dead garda the basic courtesy of calling him by his title - but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. What a truly contemptible human being she must be.

    What a pedantic pile of tripe.


  • #408
    Gregor Samsa
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,138 ✭✭✭Gregor Samsa


    pauldavis123 wrote: »
    As I said before, completely, it's a remarkable coincidence.

    I think most would say it’s an unremarkable coincidence. In fact, not so much a coincidence at all as two unrelated events that bear no correlation whatsoever. You’re the only one who saw fit to remark on it in the first place.


  • #409
    ChikiChiki
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,949 ✭✭✭ChikiChiki


    theoneeyedman wrote: »
    Firstly huge sympathy to Detective Horkan and his family on this tragic loss.

    Huge questions surrounding this incident sadly. From what I'm hearing in Roscommon, the second person involved has a history of serious mental health problems. Obviously what happened is tragic and wrong, but once again a mental patient has killed someone in this country.

    How many cases have occurred over the last 10/15 years alone with people basically left to their own devices 'in the community' kill someone. It's often a member of their own family, or indeed on several cases several members of the family, that dies,but time it happens to be a member of AGS.

    It's tragic and so sad, because if this guy had got the help he needed, a life could have been saved. Ironically, he'll get all the help he needs now.

    Now is not the time, but longterm AGS must review their procedures on how they handle firearms, when they are engaged, how they are protected, etc..... As bad as this incident was (and it was shockingly bad, I'm not making little of it in any way) it actually have been worse.

    Heard similar.


  • #410
    sdanseo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,273 ✭✭✭sdanseo


    theoneeyedman wrote: »
    Firstly huge sympathy to Detective Horkan and his family on this tragic loss.

    Huge questions surrounding this incident sadly. From what I'm hearing in Roscommon, the second person involved has a history of serious mental health problems. Obviously what happened is tragic and wrong, but once again a mental patient has killed someone in this country.

    How many cases have occurred over the last 10/15 years alone with people basically left to their own devices 'in the community' kill someone. It's often a member of their own family, or indeed on several cases several members of the family, that dies,but time it happens to be a member of AGS.

    It's tragic and so sad, because if this guy had got the help he needed, a life could have been saved. Ironically, he'll get all the help he needs now.

    If there's truth to that, it's another shambolic display from the health system.
    Now is not the time, but longterm AGS must review their procedures on how they handle firearms, when they are engaged, how they are protected, etc..... As bad as this incident was (and it was shockingly bad, I'm not making little of it in any way) it actually have been worse.

    Lots of questions on this which will be answered when the time is right.
    Was the firearm drawn? If it wasn't, there's a great graphic shown to US and I think UK police now that you can be charged down by an aggressive person if there's any less than 21 feet before you even go for the gun (or other defensive weapon). I've never seen a Guard interact with someone from that distance.

    Ultimately you could only completely protect against something like by having a partner on scene, or by approaching every encounter as a standoff with suspect at gunpoint and that simply wouldn't fly here either. It's just a spectacularly sad and thankfully very rare incident.


  • #411
    walshb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 59,024 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    ChikiChiki wrote: »
    What a pedantic pile of tripe.

    The post, or Mary Lou?


  • Advertisement
  • #412
    walshb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 59,024 ✭✭✭✭walshb


    I wonder did Colm Horkan not really suspect or think there would be aggro, and got too close to the person. The person then out of nowhere became a physical threat..


  • #413
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,113 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    StackSteevens wrote: »
    I have just watched the RTE TV news where there was unaniminity in the feeling of shock, sympathy and respect shown to the deceased garda, his family, friends and colleagues.

    One thing that really jarred with me was when the President for Life of Sinn Fein described him as "Colm" - as though she and he were the best of buddies . Now I'm no great fan of Mary Lou at the best of times, but this crassness really enraged me. Every other politician interviewed was able to pay the dead garda the basic courtesy of calling him by his title - but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. What a truly contemptible human being she must be.

    She sympathised and called him by his name, as did Charlie Flanagan.


  • #414
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,068 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    StackSteevens wrote: »
    I have just watched the RTE TV news where there was unaniminity in the feeling of shock, sympathy and respect shown to the deceased garda, his family, friends and colleagues.

    One thing that really jarred with me was when the President for Life of Sinn Fein described him as "Colm" - as though she and he were the best of buddies . Now I'm no great fan of Mary Lou at the best of times, but this crassness really enraged me. Every other politician interviewed was able to pay the dead garda the basic courtesy of calling him by his title - but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. What a truly contemptible human being she must be.

    Couldn't you have picked something else to make all about yourself ffs.


  • #415
    ChikiChiki
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,949 ✭✭✭ChikiChiki


    walshb wrote: »
    The post, or Mary Lou?

    In this particular instance the post. By no means a Mary Lou or SF supporter but that is a very transparent attempt to politicise. Not the place for it.


  • #416
    degsie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,765 ✭✭✭degsie


    Can a gun be used immediately by someone with no knowledge (presumably) of weaponry? I thought safety catches were a thing. Just curious.


  • #417
    LuasSimon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,208 ✭✭✭LuasSimon


    Yurt! wrote: »
    It's also a bad idea. We're not exactly in Pablo Escobar's Medellín, and you can't Army Ranger Wing your way out of some of the problems some communities are facing in Dublin in any case.

    Its not just Dublin anymore, drugs are everywhere and dealers will injure , maim , intimidate or kill to protect their interests. Many towns and villages have no garda station so the dealers can do what they want, everybodys in fear and denial.


  • #418
    Dyr
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,246 ✭✭✭✭Dyr


    Overheal wrote: »
    Not reading this, it’s an Irish matter, but condolences for the officer his family and the community. May you all find correct justice if not a means to prevent it in the future. /Over

    Ah no, give us your opinion on people who take weapons from police and use said weapons against them.

    I'll paste your post into the thread if you like so people can see where you stand on the topic.


  • #419
    shaveAbullock
    Closed Accounts Posts: 965 ✭✭✭shaveAbullock


    degsie wrote: »
    Can a gun be used immediately by someone with no knowledge (presumably) of weaponry? I thought safety catches were a thing. Just curious.

    A Safety is designed to prevent the gun from firing by mistake. The purpose of a safety is not to prevent someone who is unfamiliar with the weapon from using it.


  • #420
    Mwengwe
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 454 ✭✭Mwengwe


    Sparkey84 wrote: »
    clearly your are not in position to elaborate further but i infer from your post that the suspect will turn out to have had a violent past and probably have x amount of previous convictions.
    on top of a profound tragedy that's a bitter pill to swallow for loved ones.

    thanks for spelling that one out.


  • Advertisement
  • #421
    StackSteevens
    Closed Accounts Posts: 873 ✭✭✭StackSteevens


    Fann Linn wrote: »
    She sympathised and called him by his name, as did Charlie Flanagan.

    Untrue.

    As I posted earlier, every politician interviewed on the RTE news had the basic respect and savvy to use his title whereas Big Mac opted for the chummy "Colm".


Advertisement