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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Cillian O'Brien & Claire Gorman

Hundreds gather outside garda station to protest over death of George Nkencho

A protest calling for justice after the death of George Nkencho is taking place at Blanchardstown Garda station.

Dr Adewale Kuyebi, a pastor at Christ Apostolic Church, urged crowds that “to let our voice be heard, we must come together”.

He said that protesters will gather peacefully outside the station from 10am to 12pm every day for the next 14 days to demand updates on the matter.

He said: “People are angry. The youth are very, very angry.

"We as parents and leaders want to make our actions now constructive."

The 27-year-old was shot at least three times by armed Gardai outside the house in Manorfields Drive and after treatment from paramedics, was rushed to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown where he later died.

Gardai had earlier responded to reports of a man wielding a knife at a nearby Spar supermarket and post office in Hartstown, where a shop worker is believed to have suffered a broken nose.

Unarmed Gardai raced to the scene where the suspect threatened the public and officers before at least 12 gave chase.

Armed Gardai too were threatened with the knife and tried non-lethal force to subdue the man, including a taser and pepper spray - but to no avail.

Gardai repeatedly ordered the man to drop the knife before using force.

Sources say up to five shots were fired at the man, hitting him at least three times.

Shocking video captured the moment and appeared to show the man swinging and lunging at gardaí, even after shots were fired.

A Garda spokesperson said: "Gardai responded to reports of a public order incident involving a male, in his late twenties, armed with a knife at Hartstown Shopping Centre.

"During an incident at the EuroSpar business premises in Hartstown Shopping Centre a male staff member received facial injuries and is currently receiving medical attention in Connolly Memorial Hospital.

"Subsequently a second public order incident was reported at a the Post Office in the Hartstown Shopping Centre.

"Uniform, unarmed Gardaí responded to the scene and observed a male in possession of a knife. The male continued to threaten members of the public and unarmed Gardaí with the knife.

"Gardai followed the male on foot and in vehicles from the Hartstown Shopping Centre towards Manorsfields Drive, Dublin 15. During this period Gardaí were engaging with the male and encouraging him to drop the weapon.

"Members of the Armed Support Unit arrived at a scene in Manorfields Drive, Dublin 15. The Armed Support Unit were also threatened with a knife and implemented a graduated response where the use of less-lethal force options (taser and OC spray) was initially administered in an effort to resolve the incident.

"The less-lethal use of force options were unsuccessful.

"At approximately 12.35pm a member of the Armed Support Unit discharged a number of shots from his official firearm shooting the male.

“The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission have been notified of the incident and are currently in attendance at the scene.

“An Garda Síochána are investigating the incidents at Hartstown Shopping Centre and the events leading to Manorsfields Drive.

“The male was treated at the scene by Garda Armed Support Unit paramedics and Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics and transferred to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.

“The male was pronounced dead at Connolly Memorial Hospital.”

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