Opening the trial of Stephen Silver’s trial, senior counsel for the prosecution, Michael Delaney, said that the accused man then added something about Black Lives Matter,.
It may have been a reference to the killing of George Floyd in America some months previously, the prosecution said.
Mr Delaney said the jury might have to consider whether the accused was “ill-disposed towards gardai” at the time of the murder – and whether that “manifested itself in his actions during the day and, more importantly, in the course of the encounter with Garda Horkan”.
Det Garda Horkan was 49 years old and a serving member of the force for almost 26 years when he was shot dead at Castlerea, Co Roscommon just before midnight on June 17th, 2020.
Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det Garda Horkan knowing or being reckless as to whether he was a member of An Garda Síochana acting in accordance with his duty.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.