politics
Congolese Man Dies After Restraint by Dublin Security Guards
A 35-year-old Congolese-born man died after being restrained by security guards outside a Dublin department store. The incident has prompted protests and calls for an independent investigation.
May 22, 7:48 AM·2m read3 sources
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A 35-year-old man born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo died shortly after being restrained by security guards outside a Dublin department store on May 15, 2026. The man, identified as Yves Sakila, was detained on suspicion of shoplifting outside Arnotts on Henry Street.
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Video footage showed a security guard pulling his hood over his face while another appeared to place a knee on his neck area. After about two minutes, Sakila stopped struggling and became motionless. He was taken to hospital and died shortly afterward.
M. on May 15, 2026. A post-mortem examination has been completed by the Office of the State Pathologist, though results are not being released for operational reasons. Fiosru, the police watchdog, attended the scene after the Gardai referred itself for review. Arnotts stated it was deeply saddened by the incident and is cooperating with the investigation.
Black Coalition Ireland organized the protest and called for a full, transparent, and independent investigation. Dr Ebun Joseph, Ireland's special rapporteur on racism and equality, expressed profound shock and grave concern at the incident. Michael Martin, Ireland's Taoiseach, said he was very concerned by the death and called for a thorough investigation.
He offered deepest sympathies to Sakila's family and the wider Congolese community. A tribute with flowers and a sign reading "black lives matter here too" was left outside the store.
The Irish Network Against Racism claimed there were hallmarks of excessive use of force. David Kaliba, a 35-year-old physics student who went to school with Sakila, told The Telegraph that the incident represented a George Floyd moment in Ireland. A solicitor for the family said Sakila had been homeless and had certain drug issues.
Councillor Yemi Adenuga said he had been failed by the system and should have received support. >"We call this a George Floyd moment. " — David Kaliba, physics student, May 2026 (GB News) The case has drawn comparisons to the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minnesota, where a police officer knelt on his neck for about nine minutes.
