Labour’s Alan Kelly told the Dáil today that he “had to ring” the Minister for Justice to inform him that guns were supplied to Evan Fitzgerald, the young man who publicly took his own life at a Carlow shopping centre, by undercover gardaí.
Deputy Kelly said that he had to tell the Minister to go to the Garda Commissioner to ask about the full details of the case – and asked why Drew Harris had not briefed the Minister.
“Under section 41 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner must inform the Minister for justice about any major issues,” the Labour TD told the Dáil.
“On 1 June, Evan Fitzgerald tragically and very publicly took his own life after getting bail on being charged after an undercover Garda operation. Why did the Garda Commissioner not brief the Minister for justice on the details of this case and the facts that there was an undercover operation and that the guns were supplied by An Garda Síochána?” he asked.
“More important, is it appropriate and right that I, as a member of the Opposition, had to ring the Minister for justice about this and inform him about it? Is it correct that I had to tell him to go to the Garda Commissioner to ask him about the full details of this case?,” he continued.
“Would we have ever known the full details of the case considering what was said in court on 4 March last year? Would we have ever known the full details if I had not to ring the Minister for justice on 3 June in relation to this?,” Deputy Kelly asked.
Evan Fitzgerald took his own life in Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow Town at about 6.15pm on Sunday, June 1st after firing several shots into the air.
He was on bail for over a year at the time, awaiting trial on charges relating to possessing two guns, ammunition for a wide range of firearms, and explosive powders. However, Gardaí did not believe that he was connected with organised crime, but that he was in possession of the guns for shooting in the woods.
Dputy Kelly had raised the case in the Dáil last week, where he challenged reports of a court hearing in relation to Mr Fitzgerald’s gun possession where gardaí had told the judge they were “investigating” how he acquired the guns.
“The guns were actually given to him by An Garda Síochána … How could they say in court that they didn’t know where the guns came from?” Mr Kelly said.
In respomse to Deputy Kelly todat, Tánaiste Simon Harrus said that the Minister for Justice has sought further information from the Garda Commissioner on the case.
“I extend my sympathy to the family of the young man, Evan Fitzgerald. He was a countyman of mine. The incident was a great shock in the local community and County Wicklow. I understand this is a complex case,” he said.
“Obviously, I am not privy, nor should I be, to when the Garda Commissioner does or does not use the provision in the Act. That is a matter between the Commissioner and the Minister, but I understand the Minister for justice has sought further information from the Garda Commissioner on the case.”
“I also note the comments of the Taoiseach last week on this issue and the need for a review. I support the Taoiseach in his comments on that,” he said.