Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Ireland's parliament on Thursday to protest the death of a Congolese man who died after being restrained outside a Dublin department store, an incident that some have likened to the killing of George Floyd in the United States.
Incident Details
Yves Sakila, 35, was detained by security guards on one of Dublin's busiest shopping streets last Friday in connection with an alleged shoplifting incident. Irish police reported that security staff restrained Sakila shortly after 5 p.m., after which he became unresponsive at the scene. Sakila, who had lived in Ireland since 2004, was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Video footage widely shared on social media shows Sakila pinned to the ground by at least five men for nearly five minutes as bystanders watched. Two of the men held his face to the ground, and at one point, one appeared to kneel on his head or neck for a few seconds.
Comparisons to George Floyd
David Kaliba, a 35-year-old physics student who attended a north Dublin suburban high school with Sakila, said, 'We call this a George Floyd moment.' Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis in May 2020, sparking global protests against police brutality and racism. Kaliba, who like Sakila moved to Ireland from the Democratic Republic of Congo at a young age, expressed disbelief: 'I can't believe it happened in America in 2020 and happened in Ireland in 2026.'
Political Reactions
Prime Minister Micheal Martin repeated calls on Thursday for a thorough investigation, stating that the manner of Sakila's death has caused huge concern across society. The Taoiseach had earlier told parliament that the incident must be 'thoroughly investigated' and that 'the full circumstances of what happened need to be examined and investigated fully and thoroughly.'
Lawmakers described the video of Sakila's death as 'distressing' and 'disturbing.' Protesters outside parliament chanted 'no cover up, no delay,' while some held signs reading 'Justice' and 'cead mile failte (the Irish phrase for welcome) is for everyone.'
Community Impact
The death has sparked anger among Ireland's minority communities. Adenuga, a councillor for the governing Fine Gael party and Ireland's first elected Black female politician, said the government had failed to put provisions in place to properly integrate the country's rising number of immigrants, calling it 'a recipe for chaos, anarchy and apathy.'
The Irish Network Against Racism expressed concern that excessive force may have been used, stating in a release that 'the death of a black man in such circumstances is extremely worrying.'
Ongoing Investigation
Police confirmed on Thursday that a post-mortem examination had been completed, but the results are not being released for operational reasons. Officers have recovered footage from CCTV and social media and are seeking to speak with anyone who was near Arnotts, one of the country's best-known department stores. Police also noted that a man in his 80s was injured at the scene as Sakila allegedly attempted to flee.
Flowers have been laid on Henry Street where Sakila was detained. Sanaa Basit, a translator and mother of two who moved to Ireland from Sudan 10 years ago, said, 'I couldn't sleep at night. I just kept watching it (the video) time over time.' Laure Zoya, vice president of the Congolese Community in Ireland, said members were 'shocked, disturbed and no longer felt safe,' adding that 'the Ireland that they knew 30 years ago is no longer the same.'
