A memorial gathering took place on Henry Street in Dublin city centre in memory of a Congolese man who lost his life following an alleged shoplifting incident the previous Friday.
Members of the Congolese Community in Ireland group chanted prayers, sang songs and placed flowers close to where Yves Sakila had been detained, reports RTE.
Mr Sakila, who was in his 30s, became unresponsive after the incident and was later pronounced dead at the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan pledged that a thorough inquiry into Mr Sakila’s death is underway, after demonstrators demanded a comprehensive investigation, reports RTE.
Mr O’Callaghan extended his sympathies to the Sakila family following what he described as a “very distressing and concerning event.”
“The most important thing that should happen next is that there should be a thorough garda investigation.
“Notwithstanding the fact that it was private security individuals who were involved, there was a subsequent garda involvement and because of that there will also be a Fiosrú investigation,” Mr O’Callaghan said, reports RTE.
Gardaà were alerted after security staff detained a man on Henry Street in connection with an alleged shoplifting incident at a nearby retail premises after 5pm on Friday.
They stated the man subsequently lost consciousness at the scene and was taken to the Mater Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, reports RTE.
Gardaà added that the outcome of a post-mortem examination would help guide their investigation, and that the matter had been referred to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman.
The minister also called on members of the public with any relevant information to come forward, and urged people to stop circulating footage of the incident on social media, reports RTE.
“I want to assure the Sakila family and indeed the Congolese community in Ireland that there is a very thorough investigation ongoing,” he said, reports RTE.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also said the case must be fully investigated.
He conveyed his sympathies to the Sakila family and acknowledged that “a lot of people are clearly very concerned” in the aftermath of what occurred, reports RTE.
When asked about the matter, the Taoiseach said he wished to offer his “deepest sympathies” to Mr Sakila’s family.
“My deepest sympathies go out to his family, and to the wider Congolese community,” Mr Martin said.
“The situation will have to be thoroughly investigated, and needs to be thoroughly investigated.
“I don’t want to prejudice the outcome of that investigation but I think a lot of people are clearly very concerned about what has transpired here,” reports RTE.
In a statement, Fiosrú confirmed it had received a referral from a garda superintendent in relation to the incident.
It clarified that a referral does not imply any wrongdoing by a garda, but rather that Fiosrú will assess whether any “act or omission of a garda or gardaà may have resulted in the death of, or serious harm to, a person,” reports RTE.
Fiosrú noted that its investigations relate to incidents involving contact with gardaà where a member of the public has died or suffered serious injury.
Flowers were placed at the scene, with women from the Congolese community leading those gathered in prayer, song and mourning, reports RTE.
A Congolese man present at the vigil said: “It’s not all about the race.”
“It could happen to me. It could happen to you,” he said, reports RTE.
The man called for “justice for our brother.”
Video deeply disturbing and distressing – Gannon
Social Democrats Justice Spokesperson and local TD Gary Gannon described footage circulating on social media of the incident as “deeply disturbing and distressing.”
“My thoughts are with Mr Sakila’s family and friends, who are grieving at the moment,” he said.
“This incident has also spread fear and upset throughout our migrant community.
“There must be an immediate, comprehensive and transparent investigation into all of the circumstances which may have led to Mr Sakila’s death, reports RTE.
“The migrant community in Ireland is suffering from rising hate and discrimination, which the Government has done very little to combat.
“My thoughts and solidarity are with Ireland’s migrant community at this difficult time,” reports RTE.
Labour TD for Dublin Central Marie Sherlock expressed her condolences to the family.
“I want to offer my deepest condolences to the family of Yves Sakila and the close knit Congolese community in this city. My thoughts are also very much with the injured elderly man innocently going about this business.
“I am acutely conscious that the full information and facts of what happened have not emerged, and we wait a full investigation into what happened, to include the level of risk and threat to the wider public or the security guards,” she said, reports RTE.
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