Man walked through Carlow shopping centre firing into air before being confronted by cops as crowds ran from scene

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

THE suspect a the centre of last night's "terrifying" Carlow incident walked through the shopping centre firing shots into the air.
Gardai responded to the scene after 6pm on Sunday evening where they were met with "a large number of people" fleeing Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow.
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Gardai response after 6pm
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The shopping centre was evacuated
Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire
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The scene remains sealed off today
Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire
An unarmed uniform unit arriving on the scene observed the white Irishman, 20s, exiting the shopping centre and firing a shotgun into the air.
He was confronted by a plainclothes armed Garda unit who drew their weapons and identified themselves.
The suspect then turned the gun on himself and discharged the firearm again delivering a "self-inflicting a fatal wound".
The man's body remains at the scene today with the area still sealed off by Gardai.
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It will be removed to the State Pathologist Office where formal identification and a postmortem will be carried out.
A bottle containing an "unknown substance" was observed on the man's body prompting Gardai to request the assistance of the Irish Defence Forces EOD team.
Members from Collins Barracks, Cork attended the scene last night and have since deemed it safe.
There were no injuries to members of the public inside the shopping centre as a result of the several shots fired.
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However, a nine-year-old girl was treated for a leg injury sustained after a fall as crowds ran from the shooter.
The gunman involved in the shooting yesterday evening was out on bail for firearms offences.
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The man, aged in his early 20s, was out on bail for firearms offences and known to gardai.
Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman described the events as "terrifying".
She said: "This was meant to be a normal day out on a bank holiday weekend.
"This was a terrifying experience for every person that was present in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre, yesterday evening."
'VERY DANGEROUS INCIDENT'
She added: "I would like to acknowledge the management and business community of the Fairgreen Shopping Centre for their assistance and support to the public yesterday evening.
"I also want to acknowledge the assistance of all the emergency services yesterday evening, Local Fire Brigade, Ambulance Services and the Defence forces for their professionalism and assistance.
"I specifically want to highlight the response of local Garda members, who on receipt of a call of a very dangerous incident immediately responded to protect their community. Their courage was exemplary.
"An Garda Síochána is conscious that this serious incident has an impact on the local community and local Garda management will work with the local community, business community and other state agencies in the coming days to help the community come to terms with this incident.
"An Garda Síochána is also very aware that there is a family grieving the death of their loved one at this time and An Garda Síochána appeals for privacy for the family."
SCENE SEALED
In a length statement today the Assistant Commissioner addressed the horror ordeal and pleaded once again with the public not to circulate footage of the incident.
The statement said: "Yesterday, Sunday 1st June 2025, shortly after 6.15pm An Garda Síochána received multiple reports of shots fired in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow.
"Gardai responded to the scene and met a large number of people running from the shopping centre. An unarmed uniform unit arriving at the scene observed the suspect exiting the shopping centre.
"The suspect discharged a firearm, a shotgun, into the air. Another plainclothes armed Garda unit responding drew their official firearms and identified themselves as armed gardai.
"The suspect discharged the firearm again, self-inflicting a fatal wound. No member of An Garda Siochana discharged a weapon.
"An Garda Siochana now understands that the lone male had walked through the shopping centre and had discharged the firearm, into the air, on a number of occasions."
"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."
"An Garda Siochana implemented a cordon around the Fairgreen Shopping Centre and carpark."
GARDA PROBE
The statement continues: "This morning the Garda Technical Bureau has commenced a technical examination of the scene at Fairgreen Shopping Centre and Carpark.
"The shopping centre and carpark remain cordoned off this afternoon.
"An Garda Siochana will provide information to the public later this afternoon on how to gain access to private vehicles which are parked in the carpark. An Garda Siochana continue to investigate all of the circumstances of this serious incident.
"An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a Senior Investigating Officer appointed to lead the investigation. A Family Liaison Officer is providing support to the deceased's family at this time.
"Investigating Gardai once again urge anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it directly to the investing team.
"Anyone present at Fairgreen Shopping Centre between approximately 6:00pm and 6:30pm yesterday evening, Sunday 1st June 2025 is asked to contact the incident room at Carlow Garda Station.
"Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111."
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan described the shooting last night as a "really shocking incident".
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'I would appeal to anyone who has any information to speak to the gardai and help with their investigations in any way that they can."
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The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal have declared the site safe
Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire
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Terrified shoppers fled the scene as emergency services attended
Credit: Niall Carson/PA Wire