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Shopping centre shooting a 'terrifying experience'

Jessica Lawrence
BBC News NI
PA Media Four forensic workers dressed in white zip-up suits and wearing blue gloves stand outside a red tent outside Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow. Behind the tent are large windows with Tesco signs.PA Media
Forensic teams are conducting examinations of the scene of the shooting at Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow

A shooting incident which took place in a County Carlow shopping centre was a "terrifying experience" for every person present, Gardaí (Irish police) have said.

Gardaí received multiple reports of shots being fired in Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow town shortly after 18:15 local time on Sunday evening.

The suspect, a white Irish man in his 20s, is understood to have fired the shotgun a number of times as he walked through the centre.

He was then witnessed exiting the centre and was confronted by armed, plain clothed officers. He later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

At a press conference on Monday, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said no one was injured by the shots discharged, but a young girl suffered a minor leg injury after falling while running from the scene.

"This was meant to be a normal day out on a bank holiday weekend," she said.

"This was a terrifying experience for every person that was present in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre yesterday evening."

PA Media A close-up image of Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman. Her mouth is open as she speaks. She is wearing a black police hat, a pair of dark-rimmed square glasses, and has her blonde hair tied back.PA Media
Gardaí Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman spoke about the "serious incident" at a press conference on Monday

While armed gardaí identified themselves and drew their weapons, Ms Hilman said no officers discharged their weapon.

Gardaí confirmed on Monday that the man's body had been taken to a mortuary in Dublin for a post mortem examination to be carried out.

Ms Hilman said the deceased's family are "grieving the death of their loved one" and asked for privacy.

Gardaí 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.

Gardaí courage 'exemplary'

Following the incident, gardaí found a bottle with an unknown substance on the deceased.

An army bomb disposal team from Cork arrived late on Sunday night, and declared the scene safe earlier on Monday.

The shopping centre and the car park remain cordoned off, but gardaí are allowing members of the public access to the car park to retrieve vehicles.

Ms Hilman said gardaí continue to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this "serious incident".

PA Media Three red and yellow fire service vehicles sits in a line outside a grey bricked building. They have cordoned off the area using red and white tape. Four fire men in illuminous yellow jackets can be seen beyond the cordon with one in front of it. A gathering of three men watch on from in-front of the cordon. A blue sign in white font reads 'Fire Brigade'. An orange sign in black font reads 'Road Closed.'PA Media
A number of emergency services attended the scene following the incident

She paid tribute to the management and businesses within Fairgreen Shopping Centre, as well as the emergency services.

"I specifically want 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," she added.

"Their courage was exemplary."

She said that gardaí are aware of the impact this will have on the local community, and there will be work done to ensure it can "come to terms with this incident".

On Sunday, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" at the incident.