Latest news with #Fiosru
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
FBI tipped off gardai to Carlow shooter's attempts to buy guns on dark web as fresh controlled delivery details emerge
GARDAI carried out a controlled delivery of firearms to Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald after being tipped off by the FBI about attempts to buy them on the dark web. Senior sources told the Irish Sun that Advertisement Fitzgerald He Labour's Alan Kelly this week raised questions over the 'proportionality' of the He asked if they could have looked at alternative interventions given Fitzgerald was not involved in organised crime and had 'some issues.' Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS It followed a €2,700 payment being allegedly paid over for the acquisition of firearms and ammo. Controlled delivery is a common methodology used by police forces worldwide. It sees a handover of illicit items to a suspect, who has sought to get them, by an undercover police officer. Advertisement Most read in Irish News A senior source said: 'Gardai were correct to act in the initial case last year and act on information passed to them. 'Controlled delivery is a very common method used by police forces worldwide.' Man walked through Carlow shopping centre firing into air before being confronted by cops as crowds ran from scene In a statement on the matter, a spokesperson said: 'An Garda Siochana is precluded by law from commenting on protected disclosures. "An Garda Siochana does not comment on matters before the courts. Advertisement "In general and without commenting on any specific case, An Garda Siochana use a range of internationally recognised investigative techniques when tackling serious crimes such as the sale and supply of drugs and procuring of firearms, either of which could then be used to cause significant harm to the public. "One of these is controlled deliveries. In controlled deliveries if any material is used it is made safe by the law enforcement agency before being used, ie firearms are deactivated. 'ALLEGATIONS REFERRED' "Following these allegations being published by a national newspaper in May 2025, the Garda Commissioner referred these allegations to Fiosru for independent examination in line with the 'incidents of concern' provision in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act, and relevant material was provided. "As stated by the Commissioner, Fiosru has informed An Garda Siochana that it would not be taking any further action on the matter. Advertisement "The individual involved was charged following independent evaluation of the Garda investigation by the Director of Public Prosecutions.' During Fitzgerald's first court appearance, gardai initially objected to his bail but then acceded to it under strict conditions which the accused had stuck to until the day of taking his own Another source explained that Fitzgerald did not have any criminal history, which made it difficult to prevent him from getting bail when charged last year. 'NUMBER OF FACTORS' This source added: 'There are a number of factors that the gardai could object under, such as being a flight risk, interference of witnesses or the risk of committing a serious offence while on bail or the seriousness of the alleged crimes. Advertisement 'But this all has to be backed up by examples and facts. "The fact is that this man had no criminal history whatsoever to back up any such concerns.' The Irish Sun last week revealed how cops probing Fitzgerald's death seized a USB stick found taped to his friend's bedroom window. They are now examining its contents in a bid to get answers behind his actions. Advertisement 1 Gardai were tipped off by the FBI after Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald tried to buy guns on the dark web Credit: GARDA
Sunday World
27-05-2025
- Sunday World
Teenager sues Garda chief over injuries after being kicked multiple times in the head
Justin Covaci, who is suing through his mother Florina, claims gardaí assaulted him last year. A teenager who sustained shocking head injuries during a traffic arrest is now suing the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice in the High Court. Papers were filed on May 15 by solicitor David Harrington, acting for Justin Covaci who is suing through his mother Florina. The civil case comes as Fiosru – formerly the Garda Ombudsman Commission – is carrying out its own investigation into Justin's claims that the injuries occurred as a result of being kicked several times in the head by an officer following a traffic stop in Dublin. It's understood Fiosru has taken statements from a number of those present on the night of November 23, 2024 when the stop occurred. Today's News in 90 Seconds. A Garda spokesperson previously said the stop had occurred after an alleged incident of dangerous driving and that the driver was released pending referral to the youth diversion programme. In an interview with the Sunday World, Justin alleged that he had sustained two black eyes, a haemorrhage in his left eye and cuts requiring seven stitches as a result of being kicked in the head 'two or three times' after he was removed from his vehicle, restrained on the ground and cuffed. Justin said he had been dropping friends home in his mother's 141-Audi when he accidentally pulled out in front of a Garda jeep, causing it to swerve to avoid a collision. 'I was dropping the lads home. I was coming out of my estate, there's a left turn going towards the Whitestown area and a left turn going towards Centra in Huntstown. 'I took the right turn and as soon as I did I saw a white jeep coming at a high speed. 'At the time I jammed on the brakes but they had to swerve to avoid me … if he didn't swerve, there would have been an impact … probably a deadly impact. 'I drove away thinking everything was all good and I drove on for about 20 or 30 seconds when I saw the blue lights behind me. 'I panicked at the start. I didn't know what to do really – why they were telling me to stop. 'So, initially, I did drive on. I drove on about 10 or 20 seconds more and then I put the hazard lights on before I came to a stop. 'They hopped out of the car, my doors were locked and then three of them rushed up. I was still in the car so I unlocked the doors because they were banging on the windows fairly hard. Justin Covaci 'As soon as I opened the door, one of them threw me on the floor and he put me into handcuffs straight away. 'And then boom .. I got a few strikes in the head … two or three kicks straight in the middle of the face. 'They brought me back to Finglas Garda Station and I was detained there for a while until my ma came.' Speaking of his injuries, Justin said: 'At the moment I have blurred vision but I have to go back again for a check-up.' Justin had seven stitches above and below his eye after the incident Florina said she brought her son back to Finglas Garda Station to make a formal complaint of assault against the arresting gardaí.
