Carlow gunman named locally as Evan Fitzgerald (22)

Sarah Slater

The man at the centre of the supermarket shooting in Carlow town on Sunday has been named locally as Evan Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald, along with two other men, was arrested by gardaí last year for firearms and explosive devices possession offences.

He was on bail at the time of the shooting.

He is understood to have been 22 years old and from Kiltegan on the Wicklow/Carlow border.

On Monday, gardaí confirmed that no members of the force discharged any firearm during a shooting incident.

Gardaí also confirmed on Monday evening that the man's body has been removed from the scene and taken to the mortuary in Dublin, where the State Pathologist will carry out a post-mortem on Tuesday.

The technical examination of the car park scene has also concluded, but the scene remains held, and the Fairgreen Shopping Centre remains closed.

However, gardaí said that they are now allowing people whose cars were left in the car park to collect them. Access will only be granted to people who left a vehicle in the car park.

The man was said to have been walking through the retail premises while firing a shotgun in the air.

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 gardaí.

Ms Hilman said the incident on Sunday evening was a “terrifying experience” for shoppers who fled the building when the gunman started 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.

Last night, gardaí cordoned off the man’s home in Kiltegan and carried out extensive searches of the premises.

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, gardaí said.

Gardaí are urging 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 to gardaí at Carlow Garda Station.

They also issued an appeal to anyone with information to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

The army explosives unit also finished its examination of the scene of Sunday's shooting in Carlow town.

The incident area has now been deemed to be controlled, and there is no longer a threat to public safety, gardaí said.

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan expressed his solidarity with those impacted by the incident.

In a statement, Mr O'Callaghan said: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the shooting and the community and families impacted, including those working at the scene.

"This is something we never want or expect to happen in our communities. Gun violence is very rare in Ireland, and I am determined that will remain the case.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is "deeply shocked and saddened" by the shooting incident.

In a post on X, he said: "My thoughts are with the families affected and the local community in Carlow after what was a very serious and traumatic incident.

"I urge anyone who has information to speak to the gardaí.”

Additional reporting from PA