Gardaí investigate if Carlow shooter's plan had been to take his own life

Two Army explosive ordnance disposal teams were dispatched from Cork to Carlow due to fears that Evan Fitzgerald intended to cause an explosion — but garda sources now say they believe he did not intend to harm anyone else. Picture: Niall Carson/PA 

Gardaí are investigating indications that the suspicious bottle of liquid attached to Evan Fitzgerald’s upper body was going to be used by the young man to set himself on fire — and was not a potential explosive or chemical device that he intended to harm anyone with, the Irish Examiner understands.

It is thought that the 22-year-old might have become frustrated after failing to set fire to the substance — a flammable liquid — in the container.