TD questions Taoiseach on Carlow shooter as he states the guns 'came from An Garda Síochána'

Labour TD Alan Kelly, raised a number of points to the Toaiseach in relation to the Carlow shooting incident that happened earlier in the month in the Dail on Wednesday evening.

The horror incident occurred shortly after 6:15pm on Sunday, the 1st of June 2025, at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in County Carlow. When a young man armed with a gun fired a shot into the air before being confronted by armed gardaí. The man - named locally as 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald - died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

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TD Alan Kelly said in Dail Éireann:

"I am referring to this poor, tragic, vulnerable individual who passed away. How is it that reports from The Irish Times and other media asked what the providence of the guns was, the Garda said, "investigations are ongoing" into who sold the guns?"

An Ceann Comhairle responded with "Deputy, within the scope of the House."

He went on to say: 
"Investigations are ongoing and we now know the guns were actually given to him by An Garda Síochána. How could An Garda Síochána say in court..."

Before An Ceann Comhairle interrupted him by saying:

"You are taking complete advantage, which is of no value because we are now talking over one another."

He then finished his question:

"...it did not know where the guns came from if we now know they came from An Garda Síochána itself?"

The Toaiseach then replied to the question with:

"The events in Carlow were very traumatic for everyone involved including the wider community and the family of Evan Fitzgerald, a young man whose life is now no more. It was a very sad and traumatic event. I will check with the Minister for Justice for clarity around dates. The Minister or the Department of Justice may have been told this was going to Fiosrú. If that is the case, one does not comment on it. That is normal.

I would not comment on anything if it was heading for an investigation. That is why one leaves things go to investigation. I am not aware of the background to this at all."