Grief-stricken community protests over fatal shooting

FURTHER protests over the fatal shooting by gardaí of George Nkencho have taken place, as his local community are said to be ‘beside ourselves with grief’.

Yesterday, a crowd of around 50 people held a demonstration outside Blanchardstown Garda station in northwest Dublin.

Mr Nkencho, 27, was shot outside his home in Clonee, west Dublin, last Wednesday. It was alleged he was brandishing a knife and threatened gardaí before he was shot by members of the Blanchardstown Garda Armed Support Unit.

In the latest protest, a group of demonstrators held placards outside the Garda station, calling for justice for Mr Nkencho. Among those in attendance was family friend JK Onwumereh, who said the protest was organised by the community.

‘A 27-year-old man suffering from mental health [issues] was shot by the gardaí in circumstances the community is still struggling to understand,’ he said.

He added: ‘We are really beside ourselves with grief and we are calling for justice.’ Mr Onwumereh also said that a mentally ill person ‘really needs help, not bullets’.

During the incident, it is understood gardaí unsuccessfully used a Taser and pepper spray before the shots were fired. In a statement, gardaí said the Armed Support Unit were ‘threatened with a knife’ and ‘implemented a graduated policing response where the use of less-thanlethal force options was initially administered in an effort to resolve the incident’.

‘The less-than-lethal use of force options were unsuccessful, and a number of shots were discharged from an official Garda firearm at approximately 1 2.35pm,’ t he statement added.

Mr Nkencho was transferred to Connolly Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission attended the scene.

Investigations are continuing.