Alarm was raised by Irishtown victim’s girlfriend

SCENE Gardaí pictured at the scene of of the suspected murder/suicide in Irishtown last week. Paul Fitzgerald (pictured right) remains in critical condition in hospital Pic: Paul Mealey

Paul Fitzgerald was tasered by gardaí at the scene

Edwin McGreal

The girlfriend of Paul Fitzgerald, who is fighting for his life in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, raised the alarm at the Fitzgerald family home in Irishtown on Tuesday last.
Concerned after being unable to reach Paul, she called to the house and subsequently rang the emergency services.
The ambulance services contacted the gardaí and the armed response unit, based in nearby Claremorris, were dispatched to the scene at Knockadoon.
Responding to a report that Kitty Fitzgerald was the victim of a possible gun or knife attack, it is understood gardaí went to the scene in a high state of alert.
Upon arriving, they encountered Paul Fitzgerald, who was tasered after he did not comply with directions to put his hands in the air. A garda source said Paul Fitzgerald may have been in a disorientated and distressed state, suffering from head injuries.  
An investigation will take place into the use of the taser gun, as is standard in all instances of its use.
The investigation into the deaths of Tom Fitzgerald (74), Kitty Fitzgerald (72) and the serious injuries sustained by their son Paul (37) is ongoing. However, at this stage of the investigation, it is believed that Tom Fitzgerald killed his wife, left his son seriously injured and then took his own life. A blunt object was found at the scene, believed to have been used in the attacks.

Critical condition
Paul Fitzgerald is in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Suffering from head injuries, he is in an induced coma and underwent surgery last Wednesday, after being transferred there from University Hospital Galway, where he was rushed to from the scene.
He lived between the family house in Knockadoon and a residence in Galway. Paul is a painter/decorator like his father was. There were prayers for him at the funeral Mass for his parents yesterday (Monday) in Irishtown.
Gardaí moved to reassure locals in the area that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Chief Superintendent Pat Diskin visited the homes of a number of elderly people in the Irishtown area on Friday last to personally reassure them that there was not what he described as ‘any marauding gangs’ on the loose.
However, gardaí are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have noticed anything unusual in the area of the Fitzgerald family home at Knockadoon, Irishtown between Sunday night, October 30 and Tuesday afternoon, November 1, to contact Claremorris Garda Station on 094 9372080 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.