The investigation by Fiosrú, the Police Ombudsman, into the fatal shooting of Evan Fitzgerald in Carlow last year has found that gardaí did not commit any criminal offence or breach of discipline.
The 22-year-old died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre on 1 June 2025.
He and two others were arrested by gardaí after Fitzgerald tried to buy firearms, including a military grade assault rifle, on the internet.
His two friends were both given a three-year sentence, suspended in full for five years, in May of this year, for what the judge described as an “utterly ludicrous act”.
Mr Fitzgerald had been identified as the person intent on procuring the weapons on the dark web and all three were arrested following what was described as a garda sting operation.
None of them had not come to the attention of gardaí before and were not subversives.
The incident happened at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre
Fiosrú commenced its investigation into the conduct of gardaí following a mandatory referral by a Garda Superintendent.
It found that no act or omission by any garda resulted in serious harm to, or the death of Evan Fitzgerald, and said today its independent investigation into the matter is now closed.
Fiosrú also said its investigators have continued to liaise with Fitzgerald’s family, who have been notified of the outcome of the investigation, and has extended “its sincere condolences to the family members for their tragic loss”.
The gardaí who responded to the incident have also been notified of the outcome of the investigation.
Last year, the Police Ombudsman also decided that no further action was to be taken after the former Commissioner raised two notifications of concern following serious allegations by the former Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Senator Michael McDowell claimed in the Seanad that the case was one of “entrapment” and that “untruths” were told to a District Court judge.
Fiosrú said it had examined the allegations and decided it was not necessary to act on them.
The inquest into Fitzgerald’s death is yet to take place and Fiosrú said today that in order to preserve the integrity of those proceedings, it will make no further comment at this time.