Panic At Carlow Shopping Centre As Gunman Opens Fire

A quiet Sunday evening in County Carlow turned into a scene of fear and confusion after a man opened fire at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre.

The incident, which took place just after 6:15pm, saw shoppers fleeing for safety as a gunman walked through the busy mall discharging a shotgun multiple times.

The suspect, a man in his twenties, moved through the centre with the weapon, prompting a swift response from armed Gardaí. Witnesses saw him exit the centre before being confronted by plain-clothed officers. No shots were fired by the Gardaí during the confrontation. Moments later, the man took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Though no one was directly hit by the gunfire, one young girl suffered a minor leg injury while trying to escape the chaos. Emergency services, including local Garda units and the fire brigade, arrived quickly on the scene. A suspicious bottle found on the man prompted the deployment of a bomb disposal unit from Cork. After hours of assessment, the area was declared safe early Monday morning.

The shopping centre and its car park remain closed off as forensic teams continue their investigations. At a press briefing, Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman described the event as a deeply unsettling experience for everyone caught in it. She praised the rapid and brave actions of the Gardaí, saying their swift response helped contain a potentially far worse situation.

Authorities are now appealing to the public for information. Anyone who was in the shopping centre between 6:00pm and 6:30pm is urged to come forward. They are also asking people not to share any videos of the incident, out of respect for those affected.

The assistant commissioner expressed sympathy for the family of the deceased man, asking for their privacy to be respected as they deal with their loss. The man’s body has not yet been formally identified and remains with forensic teams pending transfer to the State Pathologist.

Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said he was shocked and saddened by what happened in Carlow. The local community, still in disbelief, has begun to process the incident with support from local authorities. Efforts are underway to provide reassurance and help residents come to terms with what was a disturbing and traumatic event in an otherwise peaceful town.