Taoiseach 'not convinced' by family call for public enquiry into Mayo garda's murder

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is "not convinced" that a public enquiry into the 2020 murder of Mayo Garda Detective Garda Colm Horkan is the best way forward.

He was responding to a question in the Dáil today from Mayuo TD Paul Lawless who asked him if he would support the Horkan family's call for an inquiry.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Lawless said: "The murder of Garda Colm Horkan in 2020 shocked the nation. In Mayo it brought back dark echoes of the past when Mayo natives Gardaí John Morley and Henry Byrne were murdered.

"The Horkan family have come forward in recent days calling for a full public inquiry into his murder and the role the gun holster may have played in it. I have spoken to the family.

"They say they have been ignored by various arms of the State.

"In the Irish Examiner today we see further details on how An Garda Siochana knew about the problems with the holsters prior to the murder of Colm Horkan and the shooting of Edward Connell.

"Taoiseach do you support the family’s calls for a full independent public inquiry?"

The Taoiseach, in his response, said: "It was referred to Fiosrú and my understanding is that it's not being actively engaged with.

"The minister is anxious to be as responsible as possible to the Horkan family but we're not convinced that a public inquiry is necessarily the way to provide transparency, information and facts to the family".

Deputy Lawless said he was extremely disappointed with the Taoiseach's response.