Simon Harris says family of killed garda Colm Horkan deserve answers

Simon Harris told the Dáil that the family of murdered Detective Garda Colm Horkan deserve answers, as reported by independent.ie and the Irish Independent. The government maintains an open mind on holding a public inquiry into the matter, but insists that an investigation by the police watchdog Fiosrú and an inquest must take place first. [1][4]

The Irish Mirror reported that the government will reflect on the holster probe after the family expressed that they had been let down. According to the Labour Party, politician Alan Kelly called on Simon Harris to translate his words into action for the Horkan family. The Dáil was told that whistleblowers involved in the case had been treated like dirt, independent.ie and the Irish Independent reported. [1][4][5][6]

Detective Garda Colm Horkan was shot dead on 17 June 2020 while on an anti-crime patrol in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Simon Harris serves as leader of Fine Gael and has held the post of Tánaiste and Minister for Finance since 2025, having previously served as Taoiseach. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Fiosrú opened its investigation following family concerns over whether Horkan's firearm holster was faulty and produced by a saddlery. [7][8][10]

Separately, the Daily Mail reported that the Executive Council of Fine Gael rejected a second attempt by Simon Harris to include a controversial motion at the party Ard Fheis. The motion, put forward by Dún Laoghaire party member Sarah Hynes, calls for Fine Gael to affirm itself as a centre-right party in the Christian democratic tradition. [3]