Gardai will not face any charges over shooting of George Nkencho, 27
Family ‘disappointed’ and pledged to appeal DPP decision
THE Director of Public Prosecutions has ruled no charges will be brought against gardai involved in the fatal shooting of George Nkencho.
The 27-year-old died after an incident involving officers from the Armed Support Unit outside his family home at Manorfields Drive, Clonee, West Dublin, on December 30, 2020.
The shooting occurred after a stand-off between Mr Nkencho – who was armed with a kitchen knife – and gardai.
He was declared dead a short time after the shooting at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.
Mr Nkencho had earlier been involved in an incident at a local Eurostar store where he assaulted a shop assistant.
Postmortem results revealed he died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds to the torso.
Since then Mr Nkencho’s family have claimed he had been suffering from mental health issues for several months before his death, and the level of force used against him was disproportionate.
They intend to challenge the DPP’S decision.
The Garda Ombudsman launched its own investigation and ultimately submitted a file to prosecutors.
In a statement GSOC confirmed the news and stated the dead man’s family had been informed.
It added: “GSOC has been notified by the Office of the DPP of its decision not to direct a prosecution.
“GSOC can confirm that it has been notified by the DPP of its decision not to direct a prosecution in the case of the tragic death of George Nkencho, who was shot and killed by a member of the Garda Siochana Armed Support unit outside his family home in West Dublin.
“The incident was the subject of an independent criminal investigation by GSOC, which concluded in June 2023 with the submission by GSOC of an investigative file to the DPP.
“DPP is independent in its functions, pursuant to section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act.
“GSOC noted the DPP’S decision and has notified interested parties in the case, including the Nkencho family and Garda Members involved.
“GSOC has further notified the Nkencho family of their entitlement under the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017 to a summary of reasons from the DPP for its decision not to prosecute, as well as their statutory entitlement to request a review of the decision.
In a statement issued through a solicitor, the Nkencho family said: “The family are disappointed with the decision of the DPP not to prosecute members of an Garda Siochana involved in the shooting dead of their son and brother.
“The family intend to appeal this decision and will not be making any further statements until this process has been concluded.”
GSOC has been notified of the decision not to prosecute GSOC STATEMENT