Man dies and child injured in shopping centre shooting incident

An Irish man in his 20s has died and a child has been injured in a shooting incident at a shopping centre in County Carlow on Sunday.

Emergency services remain at the scene at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre, and an army bomb disposal team has now declared the area safe.

Gardaí (Irish police) were alerted to the incident shortly after 18:15 local time.

The girl was treated by paramedics at the scene. Gardaí said it is not yet known how her injuries were sustained.

The shopping centre was evacuated after the incident.

The scene remains cordoned off on Monday, and an incident room has been set up at Carlow Garda Station.

Gardaí have said there are no further safety concerns and have urged people not to share any footage of the incident on social media.

They have asked anyone who was at the shopping centre between 18:00 and 18:30 on Sunday to contact them.

Ireland's justice minister said the incident "is something we never want or expect to happen in our communities".

"Gun violence is very rare in Ireland, and I am determined that will remain the case," said Jim O'Callaghan.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Michéal Martin said he is "deeply shocked and saddened at the shooting incident in Carlow this evening".

In a post on X, he said: "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."

The tánaiste (Ireland's deputy prime minister) and Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he joined "people across our country" in thinking about the young child who has been injured and her family.

"I am also thinking of all those who witnessed this situation and the awful shock and upset it must have caused them," he added.

"I know their families and communities will rally to support them."