Carlow shooter named as local man, 22, who was facing firearms charges
Detectives are now satisfied the gunman behind the horror incident on Sunday evening was Carlow man Evan Fitzgerald. Mr Fitzgerald, 22, was due to make a court appearance on 13 firearms and explosive charges later this week.
He was due to have the book of evidence in the case presented to him at Naas District Court on Wednesday – which meant he was to stand trial in front of a judge and jury later this year. He was charged under anti firearms and explosives legislation and was facing up to 14 years behind bars if he was convicted. But the case against him cannot now proceed.
Mr Fitzgerald was 22 and had an address at Portrushen Upper, Kiltegan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow, close to the border with Wicklow. It is about 27 kilometres from the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow Town, where he caused panic on Sunday evening.
(Image: An Garda Siochana)
We have confirmed that Mr Fitzgerald was on bail on serious firearms and explosives charges when he went to Fairgreen and opened fire. Sources tell us gardai now believe he did not intend to target anyone else in the incident – which officers now think was a gruesome public suicide.
"He did not shoot at anyone else and we believe he did not want to. The shots he fired were not aimed at anyone," a source told us.
The steel worker – who a court previously heard had a fascination with guns – was charged over an incident at Staffan in Co Kildare last year. Detectives from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau charged Mr Fitzgerald over the incident in which officers seized a German-made Heckler and Koch G3 assault rifle and an America Colt M1911 semi automatic pistol.
A court heard the guns were seized following an intelligence-led operation into alleged firearms trafficking. Gardaí, including from DOCB and The Emergency Response Unit, conducted a controlled stop on a vehicle and seized the firearms and ammunition, the court heard.
(Image: An Garda Siochana)
Mr Fitzgerald, who was on bail, last appeared in court on May 7 and was remanded to this coming Wednesday. He was facing 13 charges. Two were for allegedly possessing the firearms at Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan Road, Co. Kildare on March 2 last year.
He also faced two separate charges of possessing 22 rounds of .45 ACP calibre ammunition and 20 rounds of .308 Winchester ammunition on the same date and location. Mr Fitzgerald was also facing a further nine charges, all also allegedly committed on March 2 last year – but this time it is alleged they were committed at Portrushen Upper, Kiltegan, Rathvilly, Co Carlow,
Mr Fitzgerald was alleged to have possessed:
23 rounds of Ammunition Suitable for use in Appropriately Chambered Rifles
Sixty nine shotgun cartridges
Four rounds for pistol and revolvers
One round of .450" Calibre Bullet suitable for use in Large Bore Centrefire Rifles
One magazine suitable for use in 7.62x39mm Calibre AK-47 rifles
One magazine suitable for use in Tokarev Calibre TT-33 Pistols
One Magazine suitable for use in Makarov Calibre PM Pistols
The explosive substance of Potassium Nitrate, Sulphur and Charcoal (Black Powder) explosive mixture
The explosive substance of Ammonium Perchlorate, Potassium Perchlorate, Sulphur and Magnalium.
He had not yet entered any plea in the case and no evidence was heard at the May 7 appearance.
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man jailed for three months over ‘unprovoked' attack on woman jogging in Dublin
The victim of a random 'unprovoked' attack was kicked in the stomach, knocked to the ground and left in pain after she went jogging in Dublin , a court has heard. Hoyda Hamad, a Syrian national of no fixed abode who has used multiple identities, was jailed for three months on Wednesday over the incident on East Wall Road, Dublin 3, on the morning of July 26th last. It happened 18 days after he received a suspended sentence for an earlier theft. A barber by trade, the 35-year-old was charged with a section 2 assault, which carries a six-month sentence, as well as with providing a false or misleading name and address to a member of An Garda Síochána and with using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour. READ MORE Hamad pleaded guilty last week and as such the woman did not have to attend the hearing or give evidence. . Court Sergeant Olyn Murphy outlined the prosecution's evidence on behalf of investigating officer, Garda Ruth Redmond. Judge Patricia Cronin, at the sentence hearing at Cloverhill District Court, heard the incident happened at about 10.05am when the defendant assaulted the woman 'by kicking her in the stomach, causing her to fall back on the ground', and Hamad was verbally abusive towards her. She also suffered a back injury, a swollen finger and her head was 'throbbing' after the attack. Gardaí attended the scene and Hamad gave a false name and date of birth before being arrested and brought to a station to be charged. Judge Cronin noted he had two sets of previous convictions, one under the name Hamad with two theft convictions, which led to the imposition of a two-month sentence, suspended for one year, in Wexford District Court on July 8th. That term could now be activated. He also committed several other crimes under a different name: three for vehicle theft and driving offences, one for drug possession, another for burglary, one trespass and another for failing to provide a passport as required. That resulted in a 10-month prison sentence from Cork District Court on July 31st last year. In a mitigation plea, the defence counsel asked the judge to note that Hamad had pleaded guilty at an early stage, which was valuable given the moving victim impact statement, which was not read aloud during the hearing. He had been remanded in custody on the date of the incident. Judge Cronin said the victim's statement was eloquent and outlined the psychological and physical injuries, 'significant impact' and the life changes the woman made since the attack. Sentencing, the judge took into account Hamad's plea and previous convictions and that he had none under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act or similar public order matters. The three-month term was imposed on the assault charge, with the two remaining offences taken into consideration.
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Speeding motorist caught driving at 320kph on Germany's Autobahn
A motorist was clocked driving at more than 320kph on the Autobahn west of Berlin, a record high at more than 199kph above the speed limit, German police said. The driver, who was not identified, was caught while racing along the A2 highway near Burg on July 28. The motorist was handed a fine of €900, stripped of two points from his driver's licence and banned from driving for three months, the Magdeburg police office said. A roadside radar stand, known as an Enforcement Trailer, caught the motorist in a routine check. A reading from its display showed 'the highest record speed' of 321kph, police said. Germany's famed Autobahn motorways have captured fascination and interest around the world for their lack of speed limits. German authorities and driving clubs have argued over the years about whether the policy should continue. Limitless speeds are not universal on the Autobahn, though, as parts of the motorway are subject to speed limits. The section of the motorway where the driver was caught has a limit of 120kph.
Irish Times
18 hours ago
- Irish Times
More than 11,000 knives seized by gardaí over five years
More than 11,000 knives have been seized by An Garda Síochána since 2020 with the highest number recorded in the north and south inner city areas of Dublin . New figures released by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan show an average of more than 2,000 knives a year being seized by gardaí in 2020-2024. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín described the prevalence of knife seizures as 'alarming'. The figures are consistent across each of the five years and across each region, although there are increases recorded for Limerick, and the north central area of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), with slight reductions in Cork City and in DMR east. READ MORE The two areas with the highest number of seizures are the north central area of DMR with 1,204 over five years, and DMR's south central with 1,139. DMR north central had the highest individual figures for a seizure in a single year with 325. The data was released in response to a parliamentary question from Mr Tóibin. Mr O'Callaghan also included figures for the first six months of 2025, which again showed the highest number for DMR north central, with 160 knives seized as of June 30th. Mr Tóibín said the unprovoked knife attack on a garda in Capel Street last month was a reminder of the prevalence of knives in Irish society. 'The knife attack stunned the nation. The number of knife crimes and the number of knives being seized by gardaí across the country each year is hugely alarming,' he said. 'Where are these criminals getting or purchasing these knives? Aontú want to see more gardaí recruited and visible on our streets. There are 56 Garda stations in this country without an assigned garda, and yet the Minister insists that they aren't closed. We need to stop the window dressing and actually improve investment, pay and conditions so as to increase recruitment to the force.' He also said that tougher prison sentences are required for knife crime. Mr O'Callaghan said he strongly condemned the use of knives to threaten, intimidate or harm others but there were no quick-fix solutions to the problem. 'I am committed to ensuring that communities are safe and tackling knife crime is an important element of that. 'There are no quick-fix solutions to tackling knife crime. Long term, evidence-based strategies are needed that address knife crime as part of a wider strategic response to antisocial behaviour, street violence, youth offending and domestic violence.' He said there are robust laws on knife crime. He said a new law was introduced last year that increased the maximum penalty from five to seven years for possession of a knife with intent to cause injury, trespassing with a knife and producing a knife to unlawfully intimidate another person. 'In addition, the Government doubled the maximum penalty for assault causing harm to 10 years in 2023. The offence of assault causing serious harm already has a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,' he said.
