An Irish national in his 20s died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Co Carlow yesterday evening, Sunday, June 1.
An Garda Síochána said it responded just after 6:15 pm on Sunday to multiple reports of shots fired in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow Town.
The premises was evacuated and the scene was preserved.
The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was requested to attend and later declared the scene safe after completing its examination.
In a statement on Monday, Paula Hilman, Assistant Commissioner of the Garda Eastern Region, said: "Gardaí responded to the scene and met a large number of people running from the shopping Centre.
"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 plainclothes armed Garda unit responding drew their official firearms and identified themselves as armed gardaí.
"The suspect discharged the firearm again, self-inflicting a fatal wound.
"No member of An Garda Síochána discharged a weapon.
"An Garda Síochána 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."
"Terrifying experience"
Hilman continued: "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.
"An Garda Síochána implemented a cordon around the Fairgeen Shopping Centre and carpark.
"A bottle containing an unknown substance was observed by Gardaí on the deceased. An Garda Síochána requested the assistance of the Irish Defence Forces EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] team to examine the unknown device.
"An EOD team from Collins Barracks, Cork attended the scene late last night. Following examination, the EOD team declared the scene safe.
"This morning, the Garda Technical Bureau has commenced a technical examination of the scene at Fairgreen Shopping Centre and Carpark.
"The shopping centre and carpark remain cordoned off this afternoon.
"An Garda Síochána will provide information to the public later this afternoon on how to gain access to private vehicles which are parked in the carpark."
June 2, 2025: Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman speaks to the media the day after the firearms incident in Co Carlow. (RollingNews.ie)
Carlow shooting victim
"The deceased is a white Irish national in his early 20s," Hilman said.
"The body of the deceased remains at the scene at this time and will be removed to the State Pathologist Office, Whitehall where formal identification will be carried out.
"A state post-mortem will be carried out by Dr Heidi Okkers, State Pathologist.
"The Carlow County Coroner has been notified and An Garda Síochána will assist in preparing an investigation file for a Coroner's Inquest."
Carlow shooting investigations
Hilman said An Garda Síochána is continuing to investigate all of the circumstances of "this serious incident."
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 at this time.
Investigating Gardaí urged 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 directly to the investigating team.
Anyone present at Fairgreen Shopping Centre between approximately 6 pm and 6:30 pm on Sunday is asked to contact the incident room at Carlow Garda Station.
Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111.
June 2, 2025: Gardai at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Co Carlow the day after the fatal firearms incident. (RollingNews.ie)
Hilman went on to thank the management and business community of the Fairgreen Shopping Centre for their "assistance and support to the public yesterday evening."
She also acknowledged all of the emergency services for their "professionalism and assistance."
She said: "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."
She continued: "An Garda Síochána 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 Síochána is also very aware that there is a family grieving the death of their loved one at this time and An Garda Síochána appeals for privacy for the family."
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