Gardai release statement after man dead and child injured in Carlow shooting

The incident occurred just after 6pm yesterday evening.

The incident occurred just after 6pm yesterday evening (June 1) in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow.

The man's wounds are understood to be self-inflicted.

Gardaí confirmed the deceased was a white Irish national in his early 20s.

"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," they added.

A young girl sustained minor injuries in the incident, which Gardaí confirmed were caused by the girl running from the scene.

She was attended to at the scene by ambulance and went home with family members.

In a statement to JOE, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman, said: "Yesterday, 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.

"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."

It continued: "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.

"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," the statement added.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin took to X to say he was 'deeply shocked and saddened' by the incident.

"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."

Hilman expressed her gratitude to the management and business community of the Fairgreen Shopping Centre for 'their assistance and support to the public yesterday evening'.

The Gardaí further added: "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 investigating 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."