Fiosrú opens investigation into death of Evan Fitzgerald following garda firearms sting
Evan Fitzgerald died from a self inflicted gun wound outside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow
THE GARDA ombudsman Fiosrú is investigating all the circumstances leading to the death of Evan Fitzgerald, writes Mick Clifford in the .
Mr Fitzgerald shot himself outside the Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow, in June 2025.
He, along with two friends, was facing charges of possession of guns following a sting operation by An Garda Síochána.
The case has been raised in the Dáil and the Seanad where Mr Fitzgerald was described as “a vulnerable young man”, with suggestions made that the garda sting operation had been totally inappropriate in this case.
Fiosrú has already examined two peripheral aspects to the case, neither of which was controversial. Now, however, the Irish Examiner understands a more complete investigation is taking place on foot of a complaint.
A spokesperson for Fiosrú said that the ombudsman does not confirm or deny the existence of complaints.
Meanwhile, last month an inquest into Mr Fitzgerald’s death in Carlow was told that Mr Fitzgerald had felt guilty about how he believed he was responsible for getting his two friends into trouble over buying the guns.
On April 16 this year, Shane Kinsella of Tynock, Kiltegan, and Daniel Quinn Burke from Allendale Lawn in Baltinglass pleaded guilty at Naas District Court to possession of a rifle, a pistol and ammunition on 2 March 2 2024 near Straffan, Co Kildare.
Both were subsequently handed three-year suspended prison sentences.
