Irish woman (30s) in serious condition after shooting in north Australia home named

A young woman from Mayo is in a serious condition after suffering a gunshot wound at a house in Darwin, Australia.

The woman, who is in her 30s and the mother of a young child, has been named locally as Eileen Gibbons from Castlebar. She was found with severe abdominal injuries after the incident on Tuesday evening in the suburb of Milner in the Northern Territory city.

The body of a man (35) was also found at the house. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A firearm, which was found close to the man, was seized by police.

The injured woman, a social worker who emigrated about seven years ago, was brought to Royal Darwin Hospital following the incident, police said. It is understood her relatives are preparing to fly to Australia to be by her bedside, but have been informed by hospital staff that her condition is “stable”.

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A relative of the injured woman told The Irish Times they are devastated by what happened and making plans, along with other relations, to fly to Australia.

Police believe the man and woman were known to each other.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey, of Northern Territory police, said the incident posed no risk to the wider public at any stage. Speaking to local media, Segeant Morrissey described the incident as “distressing”.

Darwin police received a call after reports of gunshots to attend a home in the northern suburbs of the city at 6.30pm local time on Tuesday.

News of the tragedy has shocked and saddened the Castlebar community where Eileen grew up and where she holidayed for five weeks during the summer.

Martin McLoughlin, a member of Mayo County Council, said: “I know the family well. I woke up this morning to the devastating news.

“The community here is shocked to the core. I can only wish Eileen the very best and I hope she makes a full recovery.”

Ms Gibbons has four siblings, two brothers and two sisters. Her mother, Ann, works in a local retail outlet. Her father, Sean, a retired ambulance driver, died in May 2021.

Friends of the social worker said she spent what appeared to be a happy extended holiday in Castlebar during the summer. One said: “Eileen seemed in the best of form, glad to be home and delighted to be meeting up with friends and relatives again. She had been living in Darwin for the past seven years or so.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of the incident, and is providing consular assistance to the woman’s family.