Latest news with #Hilman
Irish Post
3 days ago
- Irish Post
Shooting at Carlow shopping centre was ‘terrifying experience'
A FATAL shooting in a shopping centre in Co. Carlow has been described as a 'terrifying experience' for everyone present. Gardaí were called to Fairgreen Shopping Centre at around 6.15pm on June 1 after receiving reports of gunshots being fired. The suspect, a white Irish man in his 20s, fired a shotgun several times as he walked through the centre, the police force has since confirmed. He left the centre and was confronted by armed, plain clothed officers, and later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Garda from the forensic technical unit pictured at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre following the incident At a press conference, Garda Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said no one was injured by the shots fired in the centre, but a young girl, who was there with her family, suffered a minor leg injury after falling while running from the scene. 'This was meant to be a normal day out on a bank holiday weekend and it was a terrifying experience for every person present in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre that evening,' Asst Comm Hilman said. 'We continue to investigate all the circumstance of this serious incident,' she added. The police force has urged anyone with footage from the incident not to share it on social media. 'We once again urge anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media or messaging apps, but instead to provide it directly to the investigating team,' she said. 'Anyone present at Fairgreen Shopping Centre between approximately 6pm and 6.25pm on Sunday, June 1 is asked to contact the incident room at Carlow garda station,' she added. Garda Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman addresses the press conference Asst Comm Hilman also paid tribute to those who responded to the incident. 'I would like to acknowledge the management and the business community of Fairgreen Shopping Centre for their assistance and support to the public on June 1, and to acknowledge the assistance of the local emergency services and defence forces for their professionalism and assistance,' she said. 'I specifically want to highlight the response of local Garda who, on receipt of a call of a very dangerous incident, immediately responded to protect their community. 'Their courage was exemplary,' she added. 'We are also very aware that there is a family coming to terms with the loss of their loved one at this time and we appeal for privacy for the family.' See More: Carlow, Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Shooting
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Leader Live
Man who died in supermarket shooting incident fired in the air as shoppers fled
Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman said the suspect, a white Irish man aged in his 20s, then shot himself outside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow town after being challenged by armed gardai. The man, named locally as Evan Fitzgerald, aged in his 20s, from Kiltegan in Co Wicklow, had appeared in court last year along with two others on firearms offences. It is understood he had been facing an imminent further court appearance. By Monday evening, a technical examination of the car park scene had concluded, but the scene remained held and the Fairgreen Shopping Centre remained closed. Ms Hilman said the incident on Sunday evening was a 'terrifying experience' for shoppers who fled the building when the gunman starting shooting in the air. Speaking to media at Carlow Garda Station on Monday, the assistant commissioner confirmed that no one else was injured by any of the shots fired. She said a young girl sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the centre. Earlier, the scene of the fatality outside the Tesco store was declared safe after an examination by Irish army explosives officers. Gardai had called the bomb disposal experts to the scene after observing a bottle containing an unknown substance on the body of the dead man. Irish premier, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, said he was 'deeply shocked and saddened' at the incident. Ms Hilman said gardai attended the incident after receiving multiple reports of shots being fired in the shopping centre around 6.15pm. 'Gardai responded to the scene and met a large number of people running from the shopping centre,' she told reporters. '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 plain clothes 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. '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.' The body of the man was removed from the scene on Monday afternoon, and taken to the mortuary in Dublin. A post mortem is to be carried out by the State Pathologist tomorrow. Ms Hilman 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 Siochana 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 Siochana is also very aware that there is a family grieving the death of their loved one at this time and An Garda Siochana appeals for privacy for the family.' An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer (SIO) appointed to lead the investigation. The Garda said a family liaison officer was providing support to the dead man's family. Local Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said people in the town had been left terrified. 'People were obviously terrified, a bank holiday Sunday, going into town to do their shopping,' he told the PA news agency. 'People ran from the centre crying and upset. 'There was a bunch of foreign students in the area, who could not believe they were caught up in the middle of all of it.' Mr Browne added: 'It's very upsetting for everyone who was involved in it or who witnessed it.' Gardai have appealed for witnesses to come forward. They have also urged anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead provide it directly to the investigating team.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Man who died in supermarket shooting incident fired in the air as shoppers fled
Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman said the suspect, a white Irish man aged in his 20s, then shot himself outside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow town after being challenged by armed gardai. Ms Hilman said the incident on Sunday evening was a 'terrifying experience' for shoppers who fled the building when the gunman starting shooting in the air. Speaking to media at Carlow Garda Station on Monday, the assistant commissioner confirmed that no one else was injured by any of the shots fired. She said a young girl sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the centre. Earlier, the scene of the fatality outside the Tesco store was declared safe after an examination by Irish army explosives officers. Gardai had called the bomb disposal experts to the scene after observing a bottle containing an unknown substance on the body of the dead man. Irish premier, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, said he was 'deeply shocked and saddened' at the incident. Ms Hilman said gardai attended the incident after receiving multiple reports of shots being fired in the shopping centre around 6.15pm. 'Gardai responded to the scene and met a large number of people running from the shopping centre,' she told reporters. '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 plain clothes 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. '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.' The body of the man remained at the site on Monday afternoon pending removal to the State Pathologist Office for formal identification. Ms Hilman 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 Siochana 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 Siochana is also very aware that there is a family grieving the death of their loved one at this time and An Garda Siochana appeals for privacy for the family.' An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer (SIO) appointed to lead the investigation. The Garda said a family liaison officer was providing support to the dead man's family. Local Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said people in the town had been left terrified. 'People were obviously terrified, a bank holiday Sunday, going into town to do their shopping,' he told the PA news agency. 'People ran from the centre crying and upset. 'There was a bunch of foreign students in the area, who could not believe they were caught up in the middle of all of it.' Mr Browne added: 'It's very upsetting for everyone who was involved in it or who witnessed it.' Gardai have appealed for witnesses to come forward. They have also urged anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead provide it directly to the investigating team.
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Powys County Times
Man who died in supermarket shooting incident fired in the air as shoppers fled
A man who died in a shooting incident at a shopping centre in Co Carlow had earlier walked through the retail premises firing a shotgun in the air, gardai have confirmed. Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman said the suspect, a white Irish man aged in his 20s, then shot himself outside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow town after being challenged by armed gardai. Ms Hilman said the incident on Sunday evening was a 'terrifying experience' for shoppers who fled the building when the gunman starting shooting in the air. Speaking to media at Carlow Garda Station on Monday, the assistant commissioner confirmed that no one else was injured by any of the shots fired. She said a young girl sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the centre. Earlier, the scene of the fatality outside the Tesco store was declared safe after an examination by Irish army explosives officers. Gardai had called the bomb disposal experts to the scene after observing a bottle containing an unknown substance on the body of the dead man. Irish premier, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, said he was 'deeply shocked and saddened' at the incident. Ms Hilman said gardai attended the incident after receiving multiple reports of shots being fired in the shopping centre around 6.15pm. 'Gardai responded to the scene and met a large number of people running from the shopping centre,' she told reporters. '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 plain clothes 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. '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.' The body of the man remained at the site on Monday afternoon pending removal to the State Pathologist Office for formal identification. Ms Hilman 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 Siochana 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 Siochana is also very aware that there is a family grieving the death of their loved one at this time and An Garda Siochana appeals for privacy for the family.' An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer (SIO) appointed to lead the investigation. The Garda said a family liaison officer was providing support to the dead man's family. Local Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said people in the town had been left terrified. 'People were obviously terrified, a bank holiday Sunday, going into town to do their shopping,' he told the PA news agency. 'People ran from the centre crying and upset. 'There was a bunch of foreign students in the area, who could not believe they were caught up in the middle of all of it.' Mr Browne added: 'It's very upsetting for everyone who was involved in it or who witnessed it.' Gardai have appealed for witnesses to come forward. They have also urged anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead provide it directly to the investigating team.
South Wales Guardian
4 days ago
- South Wales Guardian
Man who died in supermarket shooting incident fired in the air as shoppers fled
Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman said the suspect, a white Irish man aged in his 20s, then shot himself outside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow town after being challenged by armed gardai. Ms Hilman said the incident on Sunday evening was a 'terrifying experience' for shoppers who fled the building when the gunman starting shooting in the air. Speaking to media at Carlow Garda Station on Monday, the assistant commissioner confirmed that no one else was injured by any of the shots fired. She said a young girl sustained a minor leg injury when she fell while running from the centre. Earlier, the scene of the fatality outside the Tesco store was declared safe after an examination by Irish army explosives officers. Gardai had called the bomb disposal experts to the scene after observing a bottle containing an unknown substance on the body of the dead man. Irish premier, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, said he was 'deeply shocked and saddened' at the incident. Ms Hilman said gardai attended the incident after receiving multiple reports of shots being fired in the shopping centre around 6.15pm. 'Gardai responded to the scene and met a large number of people running from the shopping centre,' she told reporters. '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 plain clothes 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. '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.' The body of the man remained at the site on Monday afternoon pending removal to the State Pathologist Office for formal identification. Ms Hilman 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 Siochana 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 Siochana is also very aware that there is a family grieving the death of their loved one at this time and An Garda Siochana appeals for privacy for the family.' An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer (SIO) appointed to lead the investigation. The Garda said a family liaison officer was providing support to the dead man's family. Local Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said people in the town had been left terrified. 'People were obviously terrified, a bank holiday Sunday, going into town to do their shopping,' he told the PA news agency. 'People ran from the centre crying and upset. 'There was a bunch of foreign students in the area, who could not believe they were caught up in the middle of all of it.' Mr Browne added: 'It's very upsetting for everyone who was involved in it or who witnessed it.' Gardai have appealed for witnesses to come forward. They have also urged anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead provide it directly to the investigating team.
