Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan called on Wednesday for a thorough investigation into the death of Yves Sakila, a Congolese-born man in his 30s who became unresponsive after being restrained by security guards outside a retail store on Henry Street in Dublin on Friday, May 16. Sakila was pronounced dead later that evening at the Mater Hospital.
Irish police, the GardaÃ, said they were alerted on Friday afternoon after security personnel detained Sakila in connection with an alleged shoplifting incident. During the incident, a man in his 80s was injured as Sakila allegedly attempted to flee the scene. Sakila subsequently became unresponsive and was transported by ambulance to the Mater Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police.
A video of the incident shared on social media showed Sakila being held on the ground by a number of people for almost five minutes. At one point, one of them appeared to kneel on his head or neck.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan described the event as a “very distressing and concerning” one and confirmed that dual investigations are now under way. “The most important thing that should happen next is that there should be a thorough garda investigation. Notwithstanding the fact that it was private security individuals who were involved, there was a subsequent garda involvement and because of that there will also be a Fiosrú investigation,” O’Callaghan said.
Fiosrú is Ireland’s Office of the Police Ombudsman. In a statement, Fiosrú said a referral was made by a garda superintendent regarding the incident, and clarified that such a referral does not mean a garda has been accused of wrongdoing, but that Fiosrú will investigate whether “the act or omission of a garda or gardaà may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person.”
Speaking on his way into cabinet on Wednesday morning, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “My deepest sympathies go out to his family, and to the wider Congolese community. The situation will have to be thoroughly investigated, and needs to be thoroughly investigated. I don’t want to prejudice the outcome of that investigation but I think a lot of people are clearly very concerned about what has transpired here.”
In a statement released on Monday, Arnotts — the department store outside which the incident occurred — said it was “deeply saddened by the serious incident which occurred outside our Henry Street store on Friday evening.”
The video footage has been shared with Gardaà at Store Street who are investigating the incident, with Fiosrú, and with the office of Minister for Justice O’Callaghan. It has also been sent to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. O’Callaghan appealed to the public not to share the video further on social media.
The death drew immediate condemnation from political opposition. Social Democrats justice spokesman Gary Gannon said the circulating video was “deeply disturbing and distressing” and called for “an immediate, comprehensive and transparent investigation into all of the circumstances which may have led to Mr Sakila’s death.” Gannon also said the incident had “spread fear and upset throughout our migrant community.”
The Irish Network Against Racism described the footage as “very disturbing” and said the case had the hallmarks of excessive use of force.
Community Response
Members of the Congolese Community in Ireland group held a vigil on Henry Street on Tuesday, chanting prayers, singing songs, and laying flowers near the site where Sakila was detained.
Laure Zoya, vice president of the Congolese Community in Ireland group, said its members — among the first Black communities to settle in Ireland — were shocked, disturbed, and no longer felt safe. “The Ireland that they knew 30 years ago is no longer the same,” Zoya told national broadcaster RTÉ. Zoya added that Sakila had moved to Ireland when he was very young.
Minister of State at the Department of Housing Christopher O’Sullivan extended his sympathies to the Sakila family and to the Congolese community in Ireland. “Suffice to say, I absolutely welcome the fact that there will be a thorough investigation, but obviously I can’t comment any further until that investigation is completed,” O’Sullivan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme.
Regional and Domestic Impact
The incident has reignited debate in Ireland about the treatment of migrants and the use of force by private security personnel. Gannon said Ireland’s migrant community is “suffering from rising hate and discrimination, which the Government has done very little to combat.”
Labour TD for Dublin Central Marie Sherlock said she was “acutely conscious that the full information and facts of what happened have not emerged,” and said she awaited a full investigation “to include the level of risk and threat to the wider public or the security guards.”
Background
Sakila was from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and had been living in Ireland for over a decade. He was described by those who knew him as a Congolese-born IT professional. Fiosrú, established as Ireland’s independent police oversight body, investigates incidents of contact with Gardaà in which a member of the public has died or been seriously injured. The Henry Street area where the incident occurred is one of Dublin’s busiest retail streets in the city centre. Ireland’s Congolese community is small but longstanding, with Zoya stating its members were among the earliest Black communities to settle in the country.
What Happens Next
Gardaà said the results of a post-mortem examination will assist in determining the course of their investigation. Fiosrú’s parallel probe will proceed independently, focused on the question of whether any garda act or omission contributed to Sakila’s death. O’Callaghan assured the Sakila family and Ireland’s Congolese community that “there is a very thorough investigation ongoing.” The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has received the video footage and may take a further role, according to RTÉ. No arrests have been reported as of Wednesday, May 20.
