The death of a man in his early 20s following the discharge of a firearm at Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow, has led to a post-mortem examination being scheduled for today.
Dr. Heidi Okkers, State Pathologist, will conduct a state post-mortem examination. The Carlow County Coroner has been informed, and An Garda Síochána will assist in compiling an investigation file for a Coroner’s inquest.
The information was confirmed in a series of Garda press releases and a statement from Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman.
According to Gardaí, the deceased was a white Irish national who self-inflicted a fatal wound after discharging a legally registered shotgun into the air. Assistant Commissioner Hilman described the incident as “a terrifying experience for every person that was present in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre [that] evening.”
The incident occurred shortly after 6.15pm on Sunday June 1st. Gardaí responded to reports of shots being fired and arrived at the scene to find large numbers of people fleeing. An unarmed uniform unit observed the suspect exiting the shopping centre and discharging the firearm into the air. A plain clothes armed Garda unit identified themselves before the suspect discharged the firearm again, resulting in his death.
“No member of An Garda Síochána discharged a weapon,” Hilman stated.
She explained that the suspect had “walked through the shopping centre and had discharged the firearm, into the air, on a number of occasions.”
Hilman added: “No person was injured by the shots discharged. A young girl, in the shopping centre with her parents, suffered a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the scene.”
A bottle containing an unknown substance was found on the deceased, leading Gardaí to request the assistance of the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team. An EOD team from Collins Barracks, Cork, later declared the scene safe.
The Garda Technical Bureau has since commenced a full technical examination of the scene, which remains cordoned off. Gardaí have advised that members of the public will be able to retrieve their vehicles parked in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre Car Park under controlled access.
A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to support the deceased’s family. Hilman acknowledged the assistance of local emergency services and the management of the Fairgreen Shopping Centre.
The deceased was on bail for firearms offences at the time of the incident. He had been arrested last year as part of an investigation into the purchase of weapons on the Dark Web and was facing possession charges for firearms and ammunition. He last appeared in court in May and was expected to face further charges later this month. It is understood he had no links to organised or serious crime, but the court was told he had an infatuation with firearms.
Investigations are ongoing. Gardaí continue to appeal for witnesses who were present between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm at the shopping centre to contact Carlow Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line.
Firearm incidents of this nature are relatively rare in Ireland.