Post mortem to be carried out on body of young man killed in Carlow shooting incident

A post mortem is to be carried out this Tuesday on the body of the man who died in a shooting incident at a shopping centre in Carlow at the weekend

The man - named locally as 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald - died after he was confronted by armed gardai in the car park of the Fairgreen Shopping Centre on Sunday evening.

While investigations are ongoing gardai have confirmed the suspect had earlier walked through the retail premises firing a shotgun into the air several times.

At a media briefing on Monday, Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hilman said the man subsequently shot himself outside the Shopping Centre in Carlow town after being challenged by armed gardai.

It is understood Fitzgerald, who was on bail in relation to serious firearms offences, he had been facing a further court appearance this week.

READ ALSO: Gardai seek witnesses after man is seriously injured in Dublin stabbing incident

At a previous hearing last year, where the then-steel yard worker was granted bail with strict conditions, the court was told he had a “fascination” with firearms but that the interest was more of a hobby rather than a “nefarious” one. 

In an update, issued on Monday evening, gardai confirmed a technical examination of the scene in the car park of the shopping centre had concluded and that the body of the deceased had been removed to the mortuary in Dublin and that a post mortem will be carried out by the State Pathologist this Tuesday.

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.

An incident room has been established at Carlow Garda Station, with a senior investigating officer appointed to lead the investigation.

The Garda said a family liaison officer was providing support to the dead man’s family.

Gardai have also appealed for witnesses to come forward and they are urging 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.