Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old Congolese man, died after being restrained by store security on a Dublin street on May 15. The incident, described by relatives as occurring 'in broad daylight,' has sparked a wave of outrage and comparisons to the death of George Floyd in the United States. Irish police (An Garda Síochána) are conducting an investigation.
According to initial reports, Sakila was suspected of stealing a bottle of perfume from the Arnotts department store on Henry Street. After being chased outside, he was restrained by security personnel for about five minutes until police arrived. By the time officers reached the scene, Sakila was motionless. Video footage of the incident has circulated on social media, showing Sakila lying face down and being restrained, with one person appearing to kneel on his neck.
Protesters have held several gatherings, and on Saturday, a prayer vigil was held on Henry Street near the Arnotts store.
Democratic Republic of Congo's Foreign Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, traveled to Dublin last week to meet with family representatives and Irish officials. She said Sakila's relatives are 'traumatized and shocked,' but 'they are showing immense courage and placing their trust in the Irish authorities that justice will be done.'
Wagner also met with Irish President Catherine Connolly, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan, and Foreign Minister Helen McEntee. 'The conversations I had in Dublin were very productive, constructive, and encouraging,' she said.
The incident has heightened attention on race relations in Ireland, where some activists and politicians have linked immigration and asylum seekers to the housing and cost-of-living crises. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was secretly recorded earlier this month, before Sakila's death, saying: 'The people I worry about are Africans. We can't take people from the Congo and all these places.'
Banners at the prayer vigils for Sakila referenced the Black Lives Matter movement, which spread after George Floyd's death in the U.S. Sakila had lived in Ireland since 2004, had a criminal record for theft, and was residing in a homeless support center.
Family lawyer John Gerard Cullen said initial autopsy results were inconclusive, leading to a request for a second one. He has sent 41 questions to the police. Forensic pathologist Dr. David Rouse from Forensic Healthcare Services in Essex, England, will conduct the second autopsy.
