At approximately 12.15pm, today 30th December 2020 Gardaí responded to reports of a public order incident involving a male, in his late twenties, armed with a knife at Hartstown Shopping Centre.
During an incident at the EuroSpar business premises in Hartstown Shopping Centre a male staff member received facial injuries and is currently receiving medical attention in Connolly Memorial Hospital.
Subsequently a second public order incident was reported at a the Post Office in the Hartstown Shopping Centre.
Uniform, unarmed Gardaí responded to the scene and observed a male in possession of a knife. The male continued to threaten members of the public and unarmed Gardaí with the knife.
Gardai followed the male on foot and in vehicles from the Hartstown Shopping Centre towards Manorsfields Drive, Dublin 15. During this period Gardaí were engaging with the male and encouraging him to drop the weapon.
Members of the Armed Support Unit arrived at a scene in Manorfields Drive, Dublin 15. The Armed Support Unit were also threatened with a knife and implemented a graduated response where the use of less-lethal force options (taser and OC spray) was initially administered in an effort to resolve the incident. The less-lethal use of force options were unsuccessful.
At approximately 12.35pm a member of the Armed Support Unit discharged a number of shots from his official firearm shooting the male.
The male was treated at the scene by Garda Armed Support Unit paramedics and Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics and transferred to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.
The male was pronounced dead at Connolly Memorial Hospital.
The incident was referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) under Section 102 of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005.
GSOC are investigating the fatal shooting at Manorsfields Drive.
An Garda Síochána are investigating the incidents at Hartstown Shopping Centre and the events leading to Manorsfields Drive.
A state Post Mortem will take place tomorrow 31st December 2020 at 11am.
Both investigations are continuing concurrently in line with the Memorandum of Understanding, Protocols and Agreement on Operational Matters between The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and An Garda Síochána.
An Garda Síochána are appealing to any person :
• who was in the Eurospar, Post Office or general vicinity of Hartstown Shopping Centre at approximately 12.15pm today 30th December 2020, or
• who were in the vicinity of Cherryfield and Manorsfield Estates, Dublin 15 between 12 midday and 12.35pm
• any person who may have cctv or other video footage of these incidents to contact them.
An Garda Síochána can be contacted at the investigation team in Blanchardstown Garda Station 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. GSOC can be contacted at 1890 600 800.
