Nkencho recalled as a ‘brother, son, nephew... partner’
THE late George Nkencho was remembered yesterday as a ‘brother, a son, a nephew, a best friend, a cousin, a team-mate, a classmate, a partner’ by his family at his funeral in Dublin.
Mr Nkencho was shot dead during a Garda operation on December 30 last outside his home in Clonee, Dublin.
The funeral took place at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Huntstown, where over a hundred mourners gathered outside to pay tribute.
The funeral itself was attended by 10 people in line with Government Covid-19 restrictions.
Mourners outside raised posters in memory of George, 27, stating: ‘Farewell George, we won’t forget, we’ll stand for justice and truth,’ and, ‘Black Lives Matter.’ Although he died in December, Mr Nkencho’s funeral was delayed by two post-mortems. One was carried out by the
State and the other was done by a private pathologist, at the family’s request.
George’s sister Gloria told mourners: ‘Remember George not for what they said about him, but for who he is and for who he will forever be in our hearts. ‘Brother, a son, a nephew, a best friend, a cousin, a team-mate, a classmate, a partner.’
At the beginning of her eulogy, she said: ‘This is in memory of my brother, for everything he stood for, for all that he believed in.
‘It was untimely, unplanned and unwanted, but he is welcomed into the bosom of the Lord.
‘He is at peace, he is happy, my family will be at peace.’
George was laid to rest in Mulhuddart Cemetery.
Prior to the funeral, An Garda Síochána said it had been liaising with all relevant parties to ensure those in attendance adhered to Covid-19 guidelines.
Gardaí warned mourners they had a ‘personal responsibility’ to maintain social distancing and wear facemasks.
George Nkencho was shot dead by gardaí. A video of the shooting recorded a number of shots being fired in a stand-off between Mr Nkencho at gardaí in the front garden of the family home.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has launched an investigation into the shooting, while members of his family have called for a public inquiry to be held.