The Aontú leader backs the Horkan family’s call for a full inquiry to establish if a defective holster played a part in the detective’s murder.
Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín said: “There is a moral responsibility on the Government to meet with Colm Horkan’s family and accept their request for a full public investigation into the circumstances of his murder.
“There are many serious questions to be answered. How a defective gun holster which was not able to retain a gun in its safe position in use within the Gardaí.
When and how were Gardaí management made aware this holster left gardaí exposed to real danger?
Who made the Gardaí aware. How were those individuals treated within the Gardaí after the made management aware?
“How many people were injured as a result of the holster? What role did the holster play in the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan? What role did the previous Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and the previous Minister for Justice Helen McEntee play in all of this?
“Capital murder is one of the most serious crimes. It is intolerable that such questions remain unanswered today.
“Aontú will continue to work with Garda whistleblowers and the other opposition parties to put maximum pressure on the government to do the right thing, to be crystal clear as to what happened and to ensure accountability so this can never happen again.
“The intervention of Colm Horkan’s family yesterday is incredibly significant. It’s important that elected reps take their lead from the family and from the whistleblowers.
“There are a number of steps that can happen over the next few weeks to exert maximum pressure to achieve justice. We have previously called for the Justice Committee to bring the Garda Whistleblowers before the committee to ascertain exactly what happened to them. I believe this is in train.
“The former Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee should come before the Dail and answer questions as to why she did not comply with the law. There is no evidence yet that this is going to happen. And the current Minister for Justice should announce a full investigation into these circumstances.
If there are no moves by Helen McEntee or Minister O’Callaghan to rectify these issues we will have no choice but to table a motion of no confidence or a motion seeking a full public investigation. We will make our final decision after discussions with the whistleblowers in the coming weeks, as this issue develops.”
