The postmortem examination on Carlow shooting suspect Evan Fitzgerald has been completed, Gardaí said on Wednesday, June 4, the same day he was due in court to face firearm charges put against him last year.
The results of the postmortem examination on Fitzgerald, 22, are not being released for operational reasons, Gardaí said on Wednesday.
Gardaí added on Wednesday that they are continuing to investigate all circumstances surrounding Sunday evening's shooting incident that occurred at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Co Carlow.
It is understood that Fitzgerald fired a number of shots into the air in the shopping centre before turning the shotgun on himself. Gardaí have reportedly indicated that they do not believe Fitzgerald intended to hurt anyone else. While Fitzgerald died instantly, the only other injury reported was a child who sustained minor injuries as she ran away from the scene.
Gardaí said on Wednesday that they are continuing to appeal for witnesses to this incident.
Anyone present at Fairgreen Shopping Centre between approximately 6 pm and 6:30 pm on Sunday, June 1, is asked to contact the incident room at Carlow Garda Station.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059 9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666111.
June 2, 2025: Gardai at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Co Carlow the day after the firearms incident. (RollingNews.ie)
Sunday's "terrifying" firearms incident came just days before Fitzgerald was due in court in Co Kildare to face 13 charges relating to possession of guns, ammunition, and explosive materials.
Fitzgerald is understood to have been one of the three men who Gardaí said in March 2024 were arrested in relation to possession of firearms.
The arrests on March 4 last year came after officers attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, supported by the Emergency Response Unit, intercepted a vehicle as part of investigations targeting firearm trafficking.
During the course of the search of the vehicle, one M1911 Handgun, one G3 Rifle, and 40 rounds of ammunition were seized.
The three men - then aged 19, 20, and 21 - were subsequently charged.
The Irish Times noted that when Fitzgerald appeared in court last year, gardaí initially objected to bail, though he was eventually granted bail subject to strict conditions.
The G3 Rifle seized by gardaí during an operation in Co Kildare on March 2, 2024. (An Garda Siochana)
The Irish Independent reported that in court on Wednesday, Detective Garda Brian Foran, of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), made an application to have the March 2024 charges against Fitzgerald withdrawn on direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
During the proceedings, the court was told that Fitzgerald was deceased, with Judge Desmond Zaidan describing it as a suicide.
Judge Zaidan also addressed the media reports that Fitzgerald had been out on bail at the time of Sunday's incident in Carlow.
"Bail was granted on consent," Judge Zaidan said in court, according to RTÉ News.
"Once that's done, this judge or no judge in Ireland has the power to overrule it.
"That's the way it was dealt with the 4 March 2024."
Judge Zaidan criticized some of the reporting of Sunday's incident, noting that there were "a lot of headlines about a man on bail."
He told reporters: "Once gardaí consent to bail, the court cannot go beyond that, remember that.
"This judge or no judge in Ireland has the power to go behind that. They'd be running to the High Court if I did. Once gardaí consent to bail, it must be granted, amen."
He continued: "Please report sensibly. Please tread carefully.
"There are some sensational headlines out there about objections to bail, but my function ceased straight away when there was consent to bail.
"I have to set the record straight," the judge added.
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