Family’s extreme disappointment as inquiry into George’s killing is delayed again
THE FAMILY of a man shot dead by gardaí last year are ‘extremely disappointed’ that an investigation will not be completed by the anniversary of his death.
George Nkencho, 27, was shot multiple times on his doorstep in Clonee, Co. Dublin, by a garda during a standoff on December 30 last.
He was armed with a knife and suffering from mental health problems at the time.
A Garda Ombudsman investigation was launched after Mr Nkencho’s death and was due to be completed by this month.
However, the Garda watchdog
‘Investigation is going backwards’
confirmed yesterday that due to the ‘demands of the investigation’ its deadline will not be met.
This means a full inquest into the young man’s death cannot take place until the ombudsman investigation is completed.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, the family’s solicitor Phelim O’Neill said that the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) did not give any explanation for the delay.
‘The Nkencho family are of course very disappointed,’ he said. ‘It appears the investigation is now going backwards for no reason at all. Gsoc anticipated in July that their final report would be ready for the commission by the anniversary of George’s death.
‘They are not even in a position to tell us whereabouts in the investigation they’re at. I’ve asked specifically whether they could state if it’s 80% or 90% complete, but we haven’t received any answers.’
Mr O’Neill added that the investigation may be delayed further if the Garda ombudsman recommends to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that charges be brought.
Gsoc said it intends to complete the investigation as soon as possible and will keep the Nkencho family up to date on its progress.
The statutory body is expected to provide Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane with an update at a further inquest hearing on Tuesday. It’s understood that officials have now taken accounts from all witnesses, including the armed garda who fired the fatal shots.
The family have expressed their displeasure at the course of the investigation since it began earlier this year and have raised their concerns with Minister of Justice Helen McEntee.
In April George’s sister Gloria said: ‘This must be the biggest blemish in decades for gardaí – to shoot dead a person with no history of criminality, just a history of mental health struggles.’
Mr Nkencho was killed after gardaí responded to reports of a man armed with a knife at Eurospar in Hartstown Shopping Centre. The assistant manager of the shop received facial injuries when Mr Nkencho punched him.
Afterwards, Mr Nkencho walked into the adjacent post office where he continued to threaten staff.
Gardaí followed him towards Manorsfields Drive in Clonee, a short distance away, where he was shot during a confrontation with gardaí from the Armed Response Unit.