Garda Eddie Connell blames faulty holster for 2020 shooting incident

Detective Garda Eddie Connell says a defective leather holster contributed to the accidental discharge of his weapon on 11 June 2020.

Connell, a 31‑year veteran of An Garda Síochána and former member of the Special Detective Unit, was shot with his own standard‑issue Walther as he was getting into his car outside the Israeli ambassador’s residence in Dublin. The bullet passed through his belt, which he believes reduced its velocity, but he still suffered severe injuries, describing the pain as “as if somebody put a hot poker through you”.

He was taken to St Vincent’s University Hospital where a cardiac team attended to him. While in hospital, Connell was contacted by his district officer and told the incident was a “work‑related injury”, a response he felt amounted to victim‑blaming.

Six days later, Detective Garda Colm Horkan was murdered in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, after being disarmed and shot 11 times with his own weapon. Both gardaí were wearing holsters made of pliable leather that lacked the stability to keep the gun secure, a flaw highlighted by experts in Garda firearms use.

The Horkan family has called for a public inquiry into the equipment issued to Gardaí, noting the similarity to Connell’s case. Connell, originally from Ballymote, Co Sligo, joined the force in 1989, served in Coolock and Ballymun, and was assigned as personal escort to the Israeli ambassador at the time of the incident.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Dan Galvani Sommavilla / Pexels.