Oireachtas hears gardaí made ‘controlled delivery’ to Carlow shooter in dark web gun sting

Evan Fitzgerald. Picture: Family handout/An Garda Siochana/PA Wire

An Oireachtas committee has heard that gardaí carried out a "controlled delivery" of arms to Carlow shopping centre shooter Evan Fitzgerald as part of a sting operation.

Evan Fitzgerald, in his 20s, from Kiltegan in Co Wicklow, died in the shooting incident at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre on June 1, having earlier walked through the retail premises firing a shotgun in the air.

A spokeswoman said he then shot himself, after being challenged by armed gardaí.

He had appeared in court last year with two others on firearms offences, and it is understood he had been facing an imminent further court appearance.

At a hearing last year, when the then-steel yard worker was granted bail with strict conditions, the court was told he had a “fascination” with firearms but that the interest was more of a hobby than a “nefarious” one.

At the Oireachtas Justice Committee, Labour TD Alan Kelly questioned Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the guns Fitzgerald had purchased from the dark web.

"Was this a controlled delivery of guns and ammunition?" Mr Kelly asked.

Commissioner Harris said: "I would say that controlled delivery is very sensitive police methodology.

"We use it for both organised crime and for our terrorist defence."

Mr Kelly said Fitzgerald was supplied with guns and ammunition by undercover gardaí as part of the operation.

"An Garda Síochána agreed to his bail, and subsequently he killed himself. I have serious concern in relation to all of that," Mr Kelly said.

Mr Harris said Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, had looked into the issue.

"They have since examined the investigation file that was submitted by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau to the DPP, and they've responded that they have no further action that they wish to take in pursuance."

The Ombudsman's decision was delivered on Friday, June 6.

Mr Kelly said: "I find that amazing. It's the quickest thing that's ever been turned around by them or their predecessors.

"There are investigations in relation to a whole range of things that have run on seven years, six years, five years."