LIVE: Gardai issue update on 'terrifying experience' at busy Carlow shopping centre

A statement from Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman has been issued following a shooting incident in Carlow shopping centre this Bank Holiday Weekend.

On Sunday 1st June 2025, shortly after 6.15pm An Garda Síochána received multiple reports of shots fired in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow.

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.

It is now confirmed that the man in his 20s was a white Irish national.

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.

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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 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.

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 shortly on how to gain access to private vehicles which are parked in the carpark.

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 Coroners Inquest.

An Garda Síochána continue 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 once again urge 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 investing team.

Anyone present at Fairgreen Shopping Centre between approximately 6:00pm and 6:30pm yesterday evening, Sunday 1st June 2025 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.

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Gardai would like to acknowledge the management and business community of the Fairgreen Shopping Centre for their assistance and support to the public yesterday evening.

Gardai 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.

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman specifically wants 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 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.