The garda who fatally shot George Nkencho told the inquest that he feared for his life and believed he had no alternative but to discharge his firearm six times after the 27-year-old advanced towards him with a kitchen knife, reports RTE.
The member of the Garda Armed Support Unit gave his evidence from behind a screen during the inquest into Mr Nkencho’s death, reports RTE.
Mr Nkencho was holding a kitchen knife when he was shot and killed outside his family home in Clonee on 30 December 2020, following an earlier assault on a supermarket employee.
Garda A, who has anonymity, told the coroner’s court that he had been on duty at the Armed Support Unit base at Dublin Airport when he received a call about a man armed with a knife at a shop near Blanchardstown, reports RTE.
He travelled to the location with a colleague, referred to as Garda B, and observed about ten members of An Garda SÃochána, both uniformed and plain-clothes, following Mr Nkencho.
He said Mr Nkencho appeared angry and agitated, gripping a knife tightly, and Garda A feared he would attack anyone attempting to detain him, reports RTE.
Garda A said the 27-year-old walked down a laneway and into the driveway of 15 Manorfields Drive.
He said he was unaware that Mr Nkencho lived at the address, adding “I thought he was walking around randomly… he was angry looking and snarling”, reports RTE.
He said he shouted at him to drop the knife and heard others doing the same when Mr Nkencho “suddenly lunged at me”, reports RTE.
A taser was then discharged, delivering electrical currents into Mr Nkencho’s body, causing him to “seize up” and fall to the ground.
Garda A said he attempted to secure the knife, but the taser appeared ineffective and a second laser attempt also failed, reports RTE.
He said Mr Nkencho continued to grip the knife and tried to stand back up.
He said he then attempted to kick the knife from his hand but was unsuccessful, reports RTE.
Garda A said Mr Nkencho stabbed towards his leg with the knife, and while he felt contact, the blade did not penetrate.
The coroner’s court heard that Garda B deployed pepper spray, but it did not produce the intended effect, reports RTE.
“He got up and I could remember his anger, his eyes were wild, and he lunged at me,” Garda A said, reports RTE.
He said that after assessing the circumstances, he believed firing his weapon was the only way to save his life.
He said he was shouting at Mr Nkencho to drop the knife before firing, but when Mr Nkencho continued towards him, he fired again, reports RTE.
“He didn’t appear injured, he was flailing around,” Garda A said, reports RTE.
Garda A said he had discharged four shots and was backed against a hedge when he fired a fifth round, aiming at the “central mass of the body”.
He said “he was going to kill me if he got the chance. I fired for the 6th time”, and at that moment Mr Nkencho collapsed to the ground with serious injuries, reports RTE.
Coroner Myra Cullinane asked Garda A whether he knew Mr Nkencho had mental health difficulties and if that knowledge would have altered his approach.
Garda A said he had not been aware of any mental health issues and that even if he had been, it would not have changed how he handled the incident, reports RTE.
He said: “Any action I took was a response to his aggressiveness”, reports RTE.
Ms Cullinane also asked if he had ever discharged his firearm operationally before, to which he replied that he had not.
He said: “His actions were dictating my response… his failure to comply resulted in my actions”, reports RTE.
Photographs of the weapons used on the day were shown to the jury at the opening of proceedings.
These included the taser and firearm used by gardaÃ, the pepper spray canister, and the knife Mr Nkencho was holding, reports RTE.
Eanna Mulloy, counsel for the Nkencho family, questioned Garda A on why he or his colleague did not contact a more senior officer to alert them to the unfolding situation while en route.
Garda A said they were monitoring the local garda radio channel to stay informed about developments, reports RTE.
Mr Mulloy asked whether Garda A had checked with local gardaà about the occupants of the house where Mr Nkencho was standing, noting that an officer had recognised him and was aware of his mental health issues.
Mr Mulloy said Garda A had “shut out” or ignored information offered by local gardaà at the scene, reports RTE.
Garda A responded that every call-out involved mental illness or some form of breakdown, and said that knowing this in Mr Nkencho’s case would not have altered his response.
He said “it’s a fluid situation, there’s violence, we’re trying to make the best decision in the moment”, reports RTE.
Mr Mulloy questioned why Garda A did not retreat onto the footpath and increase the distance from Mr Nkencho.
He also asked why Garda A or Garda B did not use any of the range of equipment available in their vehicle to de-escalate the situation, to which Garda A replied that there was no time, reports RTE.
Mr Mulloy concluded his cross-examination by referring to video footage showing the six shots being fired.
He said the jury had seen the timing of the six shots and “they can make of that what they want”, reports RTE.
Mr Mulloy described the response as “six sledgehammers to deal with one nut”, reports RTE.
A second Armed Support Unit member, known as Garda B, told the inquest that during the confrontation he believed Garda A had been stabbed by Mr Nkencho.
He said that after the sixth shot, when Mr Nkencho fell, he checked Garda A for injuries but found none, reports RTE.
Garda B said he was unaware that Mr Nkencho had mental health issues and had not heard this mentioned on the garda radio.
Eanna Mulloy SC asked whether that knowledge would have influenced their approach to the situation, reports RTE.
He asked if knowing about mental health issues would have caused them to pause, but Garda B said it would not have made a difference given the perceived threat to Garda A, himself and the public.
He also said he did not hear Mr Nkencho’s sister shouting from the front door or gardaà telling family members to go back inside, reports RTE.
The jury asked whether he knew the pepper spray canister was past its expiry date, and he replied that he did not.
The inquest concluded for the day and is due to resume tomorrow, reports RTE.
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