Gardaí involved in fatal shooting of George Nkencho will not be prosecuted
Nkencho George
Gardaí involved in the fatal shooting of George Nkencho outside his home in Dublin will not be prosecuted.
The shooting was investigated by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) and a file had been sent to the DPP, which has decided not to prosecute.
Mr Nkencho, aged 27, was the first person of colour ever fatally shot by gardaí.
He was shot dead in the front garden of his family’s home in Clonee, Dublin 15, on December 30, 2020.
Mr Nkencho was shot multiple times by the Garda Armed Support Unit after he appeared to lunge at gardaí with a knife following an alleged assault by him at a nearby shop.
Tasers and pepper spray had been used before the shooting, gardaí had said.
Mr Nkencho’s family said he was suffering from mental health issues and has been highly critical of the level of force used on the day.
The man’s family had welcomed the investigation and the chance of criminal charges.
Tonight they said that they are disappointed with the DPP's decision and plan to appeal it.
"The Nkencho family are disappointed with the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions not to prosecute members of an Garda Siochana involved in the shooting dead of their son and brother George," a statement from the family issued by their solicitor Phelim O’Neill said.
"The family intend to appeal this decision and in the circumstances will not be making any further statements until this process has been concluded."
They previously questioned whether Mr Nkencho would have been shot if he was white and middle class.
They also claimed that racism had tainted initial media coverage of the case.
An inquest into his death had been repeatedly adjourned while the investigation was ongoing.
A Garda statement said: "An Garda Síochána notes the decision of the DPP.
"Commissioner [Drew] Harris re-iterates today his and the organisation’s sympathy with the family of George Nkencho.
"An Garda Síochána will await further information from Gsoc on its next steps before commenting further."
Gsoc said it has been notified by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of its decision not to prosecute.
"The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission can confirm that it has been notified by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of its decision not to direct a prosecution in the case of the tragic death of Mr George Nkencho, who was shot and killed by a member of the Garda Síochána Armed Support unit outside his family home in West Dublin on 30 December 2020," a statement said.
"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."