Gardaí carried out 'controlled delivery' of guns to Evan Fitzgerald in Kildare

Gardaí supplied guns and ammunition to Evan Fitzgerald in a “controlled” delivery in Co Kildare last year, it has been revealed.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed the development at an Oireachtas committee on Tuesday.

Mr Fitzgerald from Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, later stole another weapon from a neighbour and fired shots at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre on 1 June before dying of self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Irish Times reports that following a query about whether there was a “controlled delivery” of weapons by Labour's Alan Kelly, Mr Harris responded: “I would say then that controlled delivery is a very sensitive police methodology. We use it both for organised crime and for terrorist offences.” 

Mr Kelly asked: “Are you in a position to say whether gardaí engaged with this individual prior to this controlled delivery that was organised by An Garda Síochána of guns and ammunition to this individual, and are you able to answer about the provenance of the guns?” 

Mr Harris replied that he was “not going to speak to the provenance of the firearms as that touches on sensitive methodology and the other matter is still before the courts”.

The matter had been referred to the office of the Garda ombudsman. Mr Harris said the body had concluded an investigation in less than three weeks and “have no further action they wish to take”.