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Vigil Held for Congolese Man, Investigation Under Way
Investigators are examining whether the force used during the restraint contributed to the 35-year-old Congolese man's death, with postmortem analysis still pending.
On Friday, May 15, 2026, Yves Sakila died following an incident on Henry Street, Dublin, after being restrained by security personnel. Investigations are now focused on whether the force used during his detention contributed to his death.
Security personnel detained Sakila shortly after 5pm on Friday following an alleged shoplifting incident at a retail store. A man in his 80s was injured when the suspect attempted to flee.
Footage shows five people holding Sakila face down on the street for almost five minutes before Gardai arrived. The Office of the Police Ombudsman and Fiosru are investigating under the Community Safety Act, with Gardai performing CPR once they recognized he was unresponsive.
Congolese Community in Ireland leader Kembetia Bissa said on Monday that "people are shocked and angry," with protests planned for Tuesday and Saturday on Henry Street. Political leaders including the Taoiseach expressed deepest sympathies to Sakila's grieving family.
Post-Mortem results are awaited to determine conclusively why Sakila became unresponsive, as further analysis is required before investigators can establish the cause of death. Store Street Garda Station appealed for witnesses to contact 01 6668000 or the Garda Confidential Line.