Latest news with #EvanFitzgerald
Times
06-07-2025
- Times
What drove a 22-year-old to walk into a shopping centre with a gun?
Evan Fitzgerald seemed determined to die a violent death — and on the evening of June 1, he came dangerously close to taking others with him. Armed with a shotgun he had stolen from a neighbour, the 22-year-old began firing random shots as he walked through the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow, causing terrified shoppers to flee for their lives. Fitzgerald had long struggled with his mental health and is believed to have entered a state of acute psychosis in the hours before the attack. Earlier that day, he visited a friend's home and left a USB stick in a sealed bag taped to their bedroom window, along with a capital letter E written in duct tape. On the device were his thoughts about how — and why — he intended to die violently. He wrote about his past, personal issues and beliefs about how he might die. It remains unclear whether Fitzgerald wanted to harm others or only himself. Or maybe he hoped he would be shot by gardai. Witnesses say he fired his gun but did not appear to take careful aim. The shots were fired overhead, as if to frighten rather than kill. In the end, Fitzgerald turned the weapon on himself. He died by suicide, bringing a tragic conclusion to the events of that Sunday. Such random incidents are rare, if not unprecedented, in Ireland but over the past decade there have been scores of such incidents across the US and Europe, many resulting in mass killings. While there is no single profile for perpetrators of these acts, they often share traits: violent nihilism, suicidal ideation, troubled histories, a sense of isolation. In the midst of psychosis, they sometimes want to become celebrated figures online. Investigators are still trying to determine Fitzgerald's motive. The young man had threatened suicide in the past but he was not ideologically driven. He had not been radicalised online by extremists. There is no evidence to show he consumed violent content online. Many gunmen such as Fitzgerald behave like terrorists without being politically motivated, according to Anne Speckhard, director of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism in Washington. 'This is not politically motivated violence, but it might be called motivated violence. The dynamic is simple. They are people who are mentally unwell and convinced that suicide and killing is a good answer to their life problems. They sometimes want to become a false hero, like you get famous for doing something,' she said. Young people with mental health difficulties are especially vulnerable to the lure of violence. Speckhard likened Fitzgerald not to violent extremists but to a school shooter, the type of young person who acquires guns before threatening and sometimes killing their fellow students for no clear reasons. 'These people are highly dangerous because they see violence as their way out. The authorities in Ireland need to be aware of how these incidents sometimes prompt copycats. There are young vulnerable people who might be inspired to behave like this man,' she said. Fitzgerald grew up in Portrushen, a rural community on the Carlow-Wicklow border. He struggled at school with learning disabilities but he was well liked. He was not a loner. The pictures of him at his debs show a smiling, confident-looking young man surrounded by friends. He was much loved by his mother and father. His family declined to contribute to this story. Fitzgerald had struggled with his mental health for years, but as he grew older and left school, he became more capable, more independent but, ultimately, more dangerous as he had developed a fixation with guns and his own death. When he left school and began working in steel fabrication, Fitzgerald suddenly found himself able to financially pursue his obsession with guns, which led him to the darknet. The very traits that helped him function — independence, income and ability — gave him the tools to act on his worst impulses. In people fascinated by violence, especially those who feel alienated or unstable, this combination can be volatile. Fitzgerald first came to the attention of garda intelligence early last year, when investigators were alerted to attempts by an anonymous user to source firearms on darknet marketplaces — online forums often used by criminals to trade in drugs, weapons and stolen data. The forums are among the most heavily monitored by intelligence and police services as they are a rich source of information. Undercover gardai assumed the role of an underworld gun dealer and began communicating with the individual via a Proton Mail account. The account Fitzgerald used was eventually linked to an Irish internet service provider, which helped investigators trace his identity. His request for military-grade weapons led garda intelligence to suspect he was being coerced or his identity had been stolen. The exchanges revealed Fitzgerald had a limited understanding of how the darknet worked: he could not pay in bitcoin — the preferred currency in illicit online markets. Instead, he had to improvise. Fitzgerald sent photographs of bundles of cash to the undercover gardai and promised to pay on delivery. Once his identity was established, garda intelligence began monitoring his actions more closely. But they had no way of knowing his plans or the state of his mental health. On March 2, Fitzgerald and two friends travelled from their homes to meet what they believed was a criminal willing to sell weapons at a prearranged rendezvous. Fitzgerald handed over more than €2,500 in notes before returning to his friend's car with a Heckler & Koch G3 assault rifle, a Remington pistol, and rounds of ammunition for each gun. Not long after, their vehicle was intercepted by the emergency response unit near Straffan, Co Kildare. Later that day, officers searched Fitzgerald's home near Kiltegan in Carlow. Inside, they made a startling discovery. He had been making explosives. There was a black powder mixture of potassium nitrate, sulphur and charcoal, as well as a separate mix containing ammonium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, sulphur and magnalium. The team also recovered ammunition for rifles and handguns, shotgun cartridges, and magazines for an AK-47 rifle, a Tokarev pistol, and another for Makarov pistols, the type used in gangland killings. His internet history and technology did not reveal much. He had not watched online gore or visited extremist websites. There was no guiding hand propelling him towards violence. In custody, Fitzgerald freely admitted responsibility for buying the guns, suggesting he just wanted to shoot targets. He said he had stolen the chemicals used to make his explosives, and named a friend as the source of some of the ammunition. However, the detectives could not take his account at face value as some of the ammunition matched types commonly used in gangland shootings. Fitzgerald and his two friends were charged in connection with the weapons and ammunition found in the car. Fitzgerald would later face additional charges relating to the explosives and other firearms parts and ammunition recovered from his home. Hence the initial court hearing was told that investigations were ongoing into the origin of the firearms. Gardai initially objected to bail, but it was later granted under strict conditions. Fitzgerald was due to receive a trial date when he died. The intricacies of the operation that led to Fitzgerald's arrest entered the public domain through Alan Kelly, the Labour TD, who was briefed by a garda whistleblower. The officer, who has made a series of protected disclosures about alleged failings at Garda Headquarters, told Kelly about the provenance of the weapons involved in the sting operation. Kelly has since raised the matter in the Dail and before the Oireachtas justice committee, arguing that Fitzgerald should have been diverted into mental health services rather than arrested and McDowell, the senator and senior counsel, has also suggested the operation amounted to entrapment. Few who understand the intricacies of covert policing would agree with criticisms of the garda approach, however. • No inquiry into garda gun sting linked to Carlow shooting Roy McComb, former deputy director of the National Crime Agency in Britain who wrote the policy document on controlled deliveries for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, said the garda operation was entirely legitimate. 'Controlled deliveries carry risks, but all policing does. This young lad had been trying to buy guns. He just happened to contact law enforcement rather than criminals. It's not entrapment. It would be if someone enticed him out of the blue to commit a crime he had no intention of committing,' McComb said. 'The gardai found out about this because he contacted the wrong person. They didn't initiate the crime — they facilitated it for the purposes of … building a case. That's an entirely legitimate purpose.'McComb, like others, believes it is dangerously misguided to suggest the gardai should have handled the case differently. 'These investigations tend to unfold in a certain way. If you pause, the person trying to buy weapons may go elsewhere. The gardai were always working against the clock. In covert policing, you're not in charge of every moving part, but from what I've seen, they did all the right things with the right intentions.' Many familiar with Fitzgerald believe the debate should not focus on the operation that stopped him acquiring weapons but on the violent trends emerging in society. Among them is the growing tendency of young people — often struggling with mental health issues — to embrace violent ideologies and violence itself. Fitzgerald's arrest in Straffan did not deter him. Gardai found another stolen weapon and an imitation firearm in his home after he died. He had also stolen the gun and ammunition he used to kill himself from a neighbour. Speckhard says the challenge is no longer about just about intercepting weapons or preventing attacks — it is about understanding and countering the glorification of violence. 'Unless these underlying drivers are addressed, more cases like these, and worse, are almost inevitable,' she said.
Irish Times
01-07-2025
- Irish Times
Police ombudsman investigating circumstances of Evan Fitzgerald's death
Officials from Fiosrú, the Police Ombudsman, are investigating the circumstances around the death of Evan Fitzgerald, who took his life in a Carlow shopping centre last month. Investigators from the ombudsman's office are in close contact with the Fitzgerald family and providing them with regular updates, sources said. The investigation is mandated under law as the 22-year-old from Wicklow had interactions with the gardaí around the time of his death, which occurred on June 1st in Fairgreen Shopping Centre. Mr Fitzgerald fired several shots into the air using a stolen shotgun before turning the gun on himself. However, Fiosrú also confirmed it is not investigating two other referrals relating to the actions gardaí took while investigating Mr Fitzgerald for possession of firearms last March. READ MORE Politicians have accused gardaí of attempting to 'entrap' the young man during the investigation and of misleading a judge. An Garda Síochána has strongly denied the accusations and said it used standard, internationally accepted tactics to protect the safety of the public. On Monday, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan declined to comment on the matter until two linked court cases are completed. A spokesman for the Minister said he has been briefed by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on the case 'both orally and in writing'. Speaking to The Irish Times on Monday, a spokeswoman for Fiosrú detailed its activity in relation to the case. She said on the day after Mr Fitzgerald's death, it received a referral from a Garda superintendent under section 203 (1) of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024. [ Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald had other weapons Opens in new window ] [ How 'controlled deliveries' are used in Garda sting operations Opens in new window ] This mandates that An Garda Síochána must refer any case to the Ombudsman where it appears 'that the act or omission of a member of garda personnel may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person'. Mr Fitzgerald took his life after armed gardaí arrived on the scene in response to reports of gunfire. Gardaí did not fire any rounds. Fiosrú confirmed it has appointed a senior officer to conduct the investigation. 'This matter remains open and under investigation. Fiosrú has and will continue to liaise with Evan Fitzgerald's family in this regard,' the spokeswoman said. Separately, she said the ombudsman received 'a notification of an incident of concern' on May 21st relating to the case. It is understood the referral related to allegations that gardaí had mislead a District Court judge during a previous bail hearing for Mr Fitzgerald. During the hearing, the judge was told gardaí were still investigating the source of the firearms Mr Fitzgerald had in his possession when he was stopped by members of the Emergency Response Unit in March. It later emerged that undercover gardaí sold him the two guns after being tipped off that Mr Fitzgerald was attempting to source weapons on the internet. Both weapons had been decommissioned by gardaí. One of them was a G3 assault rifle stolen by the IRA from Norwegian reserves in 1984 and recovered more than 20 years ago. Labour TD Alan Kelly and Independent senator Michael McDowell have characterised the operation as 'entrapment' of Mr Fitzgerald. Fiosrú said that on receiving the complaint it had requested further information from gardaí. After examining this, it opted not to open an investigation. Last Wednesday, Fiosrú received a further referral relating to An Garda Síochána action, this time from the commissioner. Mr Harris made the referral after politicians accused the force of misleading the court. Again, the ombudsman's office decided the matter did not warrant a full investigation. 'As the matters concerned were the same in substance as those outlined in the previous notification of 21st of May 2025, there was nothing further to be considered by Fiosrú,' the spokeswoman said, adding that it cannot, by law, make any further comment for the moment. Speaking last week, the commissioner defended An Garda Síochána's actions in the case and raised the recent school shooting 'by a lone gunman' in Austria, which left 11 people dead. 'This is sadly a more frequent occurrence,' he said. 'There is very insidious material on the internet which seeks to radicalise young people. We have to look at the individual and the threat to the general public and deal with that appropriately. 'I have to say, this was a very successful operation in that we made sure a threat to the public did not arise from the circumstances we were dealing with.'
Irish Times
28-06-2025
- Irish Times
Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald had other weapons, Garda investigation found
Evan Fitzgerald , the gunman who fired shots into the air in a Carlow shopping centre before taking his own life, had possession of more weapons than previously reported, it has emerged. On June 1st, Mr Fitzgerald (22) entered the busy Fairgreen Shopping Centre and using a pump action shotgun, stolen in a burglary from a neighbour, began firing shots in the air before turning the gun on himself. At the time, the former steelyard worker from Portrushen, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, was facing charges for possession of a military grade assault rifle, a handgun and ammunition which he had allegedly attempted to buy on the dark web. Undercover gardaí sold him the guns, which they had decommissioned, after being tipped off that Mr Fitzgerald was attempting to source weapons on the internet. READ MORE Armed officers then forcibly stopped his car and arrested him a short time later. It has now emerged that following the shooting incident in Fairgreen Shopping Centre, gardaí located further weapons, which have been conclusively linked to Mr Fitzgerald. Gardaí carried out several searches following the incident to determine Mr Fitzgerald's motive that day. During these searches they found another shotgun and a replica firearm. A big concern for investigators is that they have been unable to determine the source of these items. They may have been taken in a burglary or sourced online, sources say. The Garda has faced significant criticism is recent weeks for its handling of the Fitzgerald case. Senator and former minister for justice Michael McDowell described the Garda operation to sell him the guns as 'entrapment' and claimed misleading evidence had been provided to the District Court judge in Mr Fitzgerald's case. Mr McDowell had raised court reports that suggested gardaí had told the judge they were 'investigating' how Mr Fitzgerald acquired the guns. The Garda has referred these comments to Fiosrú , the Garda Ombudsman. Labour TD Alan Kelly questioned the need for gardaí to deliver the weapons to Mr Fitzgerald, describing him as a 'poor, tragic, vulnerable individual'. Gardaí have defended their handling of the case and said they used internationally accepted tactics in the interests of public safety. Senior sources said they accepted Mr Fitzgerald was a vulnerable person with mental issues and that he did not have links to terrorism or organised crime. However, they could not rule out that he was planning a mass shooting of the type seen in the United States and other countries in recent years. They said investigations show the young man shared some characteristics of mass shooters, including a fascination with firearms and feelings of deep isolation. As part of the investigation, they have been examining Mr Fitzgerald's internet use to determine if he may have been under the influence of violent online figures. Investigators pointed to the fact that searches of Mr Fitzgerald's home led to the discovery of ammunition and material which could be used to make explosives. On Thursday, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and his deputy Justin Kelly defended their handling of the case, with the commissioner raising the recent school shooting 'by a lone gunman' in Austria which left 11 people dead. 'This is sadly a more frequent occurrence,' Mr Harris told a meeting of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee. 'There is very insidious material on the internet which seeks to radicalise young people. We have to look at the individual and the threat to the general public and deal with that appropriately. 'I have to say, this was a very successful operation in that we made sure a threat to the public did not arise from the circumstances we were dealing with.' There was 'no other way of doing it', Mr Harris said. The suicide of Mr Fitzgerald was 'obviously very tragic' but did not arise from the Garda operation, he added. Since his death, the firearms case against Mr Fitzgerald has been withdrawn. Two other young men who were allegedly in the car when gardaí stopped Mr Fitzgerald with the firearms remain before the court. Daniel Quinn Burke, of Allendale Lawns, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow has entered a guilty plea to the charges while his co-accused Shane Kinsella, of Tynock, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow has yet to enter a plea.
Irish Examiner
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Garda-held decommissioned weapons used to catch people trying to import firearms
Gardaí have carried out at least two controlled deliveries of firearms since 2007, in which they used Garda-held decommissioned weapons to catch people trying to import firearms, Garda figures show. In response to queries from the Irish Examiner, Garda HQ detailed two court cases where gardaí substituted illegal firearms with Garda-held weapons that were made safe, in controlled deliveries to suspects who were subsequently convicted of buying weapons. Garda HQ also said the decision to prosecute Evan Fitzgerald with serious firearms offences after a controlled delivery was made following an 'independent evaluation' by the DPP of all the evidence. Labour Party TD Alan Kelly and Senator Michael McDowell, former justice minister and attorney general, have expressed grave concerns at the controlled delivery in the case of Mr Fitzgerald and two co-accused and questioned the arrest and prosecution of a "vulnerable" man. Labour Party TD Alan Kelly expressed grave concern at the controlled delivery in the case of Evan Fitzgerald and two co-accused. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins While on bail, the 22-year-old carried out a public suicide at a Carlow shopping centre on June 1 using a firearm he had stolen. He had caused panic among shoppers, including children, when he fired his shotgun into the air. Gardaí believe he had no intention to harm anyone, but said that firing a loaded gun in public, and having flammable liquid in a bottle which he was trying to light, posed inherent dangers to other people, even if inadvertent or accidental. Mr Kelly alleged that there was a 'domino impact' from the controlled delivery in Mr Fitzgerald taking his own life, while Mr McDowell claimed this outcome could have been avoided if 'diversion rather than entrapment and prosecution' was employed by gardaí against people he described as three 'naive young men'. One of the two other men has pleaded guilty to charges while the third person has yet to enter a plea. In its statement, Garda HQ detailed two firearms and three drug trafficking court cases where controlled deliveries were used by gardaí. Senator Michael McDowell claimed the outcome could have been avoided if 'diversion rather than entrapment and prosecution' was employed by gardaí against people he described as three 'naive young men'. Picture: Sam Boal It said gardaí were not making direct comparisons between the two firearms cases and Mr Fitzgerald and his co-accused. In the two previous cases, the suspects were involved in drug dealing or serious organised crime, whereas gardaí have told the court that Mr Fitzgerald and the co-accused were not involved in organised crime and that the guns were intended for target shooting in the woods. Gardaí told the courts that Mr Fitzgerald had a 'fascination' with firearms. The Garda statement said controlled deliveries are recognised as legitimate operational techniques by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and that Irish courts had accepted their use in at least two convictions. The two cases are: May 12, 2016 — undercover gardaí took the place of a firearms supplier after intelligence showed that Ahmad Ayadi, from Rathfarnham, Dublin, was trying to source firearms illegally. The officers obtained a firearm, that had been made safe, from Garda Ballistics, which Ayadi bought. He pleaded guilty on July 31, 2017; April 20, 2007 — two men were arrested in possession of firearms at the IBIS Hotel at Glanmire, Cork, after a controlled delivery of rocket launchers and weapons, supplied by Garda Ballistics after being made safe, by undercover officers. They pleaded guilty in 2008. The statement said it was up to a coroner to 'independently' determine the circumstances that led to Mr Fitzgerald's death and cited suicide guidelines from the Samaritans that speculation on causes can 'oversimply' an extremely complex issue. On Tuesday, Europol, the EU police agency, raised concerns at a growing trend of young men, including juveniles, who have 'personal struggles' or mental health issues and a 'fascination for weapons and explosives'. Read More The events leading to Evan Fitzgerald's death deserve proper scrutiny
Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Irish Times
Gardaí accused in Seanad of ‘concealing facts' from judge in Evan Fitzgerald case
Gardaí involved in the case of Evan Fitzgerald , who took his own life in a Carlow shopping centre, were accused of 'concealing' the 'true facts' from a judge when he was deciding whether to grant bail. Undercover gardaí supplied guns and ammunition to Mr Fitzgerald – who was then charged with possession of the firearms. While awaiting trial on the firearms charges, Mr Fitzgerald (22), from Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, stole another weapon from a neighbour and fired shots in the shopping centre before turning that gun on himself . Using Seanad privilege, Independent Senator Michael McDowell outlined details of Mr Fitzgerald's case as he accused undercover gardaí, who supplied the 22-year-old with seized weapons, of 'entrapment'. READ MORE Raising the issue for the second time in the Seanad he demanded 'an immediate investigation and full accountability from the Commissioner down' over how sworn evidence could be given to a District Court judge 'which was misleading and left him in the dark'. He said Mr Fitzgerald sought firearms on 'the proton email aspect of the dark web. Apparently Interpol or some other international agency alerted the Garda to this inquiry'. Gardaí did a deal with him 'in which they persuaded him to take an automatic rifle and a semi-automatic pistol for a price of €2,700″. When they arranged a meeting 'Mr Fitzgerald came with two childhood friends, and they took delivery of the firearms in one of his friend's cars. 'The car proceeded some distance away to another place, where it was intercepted by members of An Garda Síochána, who smashed the windows, dragged out the occupants and made an arrest.' The weapons they bought 'had been disabled, were not capable of discharge and were taken from the Garda's own reservoir of seized firearms'. He said gardaí initially opposed bail when the matter came before the District Court. 'When bail on certain conditions was eventually granted, Judge Desmond Zaidan, who said the three men 'appeared to him to be young and naive', asked: 'When you say the dark web, do you have any idea who was selling them on the dark web?' 'A garda told him in sworn evidence: 'that is an ongoing investigation. At this stage I wouldn't want to ...', and the judge said: 'compromise the trial', and the garda said: 'That is an ongoing investigation on the dark web.'' Mr McDowell said gardaí had informed the court the three wanted the weapons to shoot them in the woods but 'gardaí wanted to deprive them of bail, which meant being imprisoned pending trial'. Calling for an immediate investigation and 'full accountability', Mr McDowell said the judge was left in the dark as were the three accused who were prohibited from communicating with each other for a whole year. 'In that dark despairing year, Evan Fitzgerald decided to take his own life by shooting himself with a neighbour's shotgun. That is what happened, and I am demanding that there is accountability.' The former attorney general and minister for justice said 'we cannot tolerate untruths being told to an Irish District Court judge and we certainly cannot allow a situation where the judicial process is deployed on a false basis to deprive people of their liberty and to conceal from members of the judiciary the true facts when they are determining whether someone should be granted bail.' He said 'we should be very conscious in this House of the nature of the powers we are conferring on An Garda Síochána and the seriousness of any abuse of those powers'. Mr McDowell was speaking during a debate on the extension of counter-terrorism and anti-crime gang emergency powers under the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice Act.
