The Garda Ombudsman has reopened an investigation into the arrest and death of Evan Fitzgerald, a young man who died by suicide in May 2025, one week before facing trial on firearms charges. The case has become emblematic of a broader scandal involving Garda whistleblowers exposing alleged police misconduct, including what former Justice Minister Michael McDowell characterises as "entrapment" in a controversial sting operation. The reopening follows a family complaint and renewed public attention, including an RTÉ documentary that amplified disclosures previously published by the media since 2023.

Fitzgerald was arrested at gunpoint alongside two friends in a sting operation orchestrated by undercover gardaí posing as firearms dealers, who encouraged him to purchase a burner phone and set up encrypted email accounts. McDowell has expressed shock and disappointment at both the stream of revelations and the Garda's response, particularly criticising Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary for upholding interference with independent investigators and preventing Colonel Ray Lane from giving evidence. The scandal extends beyond Fitzgerald's case, encompassing allegations that former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris blocked an Army expert from investigating defective ammunition, raising governance concerns that McDowell says run to the top of the organisation and warrant the Justice Minister's attention.