GUNMAN DEAD AS SHOPPERS FLEE FOR LIVES

A GUNMAN opened fire in a busy shopping centre yesterday as terrified customers ran for their lives - before he turned the gun on himself.

- BY MICHAEL O'TOOLE Crime and Defence Editor

Sources say the man, who was white and Irish, fired several shots from a shotgun in the Fairgreen Centre in Carlow Town before going outside and taking his own life.

Gardai were trying to identify the dead man last night but they do not believe he was involved in either terrorism or gangland crime.

However, sources did say he is known to officers. Army bomb experts were late last night still examining a suspicious device found on the man's body.

Sources say at least one bottle appears to have been strapped to him.

Gardai who rushed to the scene as the incident unfolded at around 6.15pm saw the suspicious item and withdrew for their own safety.

They also called in the Defence Forces' bomb squad who examined the scene last night.

And it also emerged that gardai sealed off a house in another rural part of Leinster. It's understood gardai were close to identifying the man last night and believe the house was connected to him.