Family of Yves Sakila commissions UK pathologist and criticises Garda inquiry into death after restraint on Henry Street
Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old Congolese man, died after being restrained by security guards and handcuffed by Gardaí during an alleged shoplifting incident on Henry Street, Dublin, on 15 May 2026. He was taken to Mater hospital where he was pronounced dead. The postmortem results were inconclusive, and the Garda investigation is delayed by a 6-12 week toxicology waiting period. The family has commissioned UK pathologist Dr David Rouse for an independent postmortem, raised concerns that the Irish postmortem did not follow best practice for suspected restraint deaths, and called for an independent investigation. Both Garda and Fiosrú investigations remain ongoing.
- Reported7 Jun
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old Congolese man who had lived in Ireland since 2004, died after being restrained during an alleged shoplifting incident.
- He was pursued by security guards onto the street, pinned face first by up to five guards, and handcuffed by Gardaí from Store Street station before they realised he was unwell and performed CPR.
- Sakila was taken to Mater hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
- A pensioner was knocked to the ground and injured during the pursuit.
- Where
- The incident took place on Henry Street, Dublin.
- When
- The incident occurred on Friday, 15 May 2026.
- Investigation
- The postmortem results were inconclusive, with the heart not sent to a cardio-pathologist and the brain not sent to a neuropathologist.
- The Garda investigation is delayed by a 6-12 week waiting period for a toxicology report.
- The family was critical of Gardaí declining its request for CCTV footage of the incident.
- The events are subject to two investigations, by the Garda and by Fiosrú.
- The family commissioned UK pathologist Dr David Rouse to carry out an independent postmortem, claiming the Irish postmortem did not follow best practice for suspected restraint deaths.
- Other details
- Video footage of the incident has been circulating on messaging apps and social media.
17 statements extracted from the articles
- whatYves Sakila died after being restrained in an alleged shoplifting incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí from Store Street station had been present at the scene on Henry Street when Sakila became unresponsive. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSakila was 35, Congolese, and had lived in Ireland since 2004. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSakila was pursued on to the street by security guards. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was caught and restrained by a group of up to five security guards who allegedly used force to pin him down face first on the street. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe responding gardaí handcuffed Sakila in an apparent bid to get control of the situation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA pensioner was knocked to the ground and injured as Sakila was being pursued. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAlmost immediately after the handcuffs were applied, gardaí realised Sakila was unwell, removed the handcuffs and began performing CPR. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSakila was taken to the Mater hospital where he was later pronounced dead. (irishtimes.com)
- whatVideo footage of the incident has been circulating on messaging apps and social media. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSakila was suspected of shoplifting on Henry Street on Friday, 15 May. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe heart of the deceased was not transmitted for analysis to any cardio-pathologist. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe brain was not sent to any neuropathologist. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Garda investigation is being delayed by a 6-12 week waiting period for a toxicology report. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe family was critical of gardaí declining its request for CCTV footage of the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe events were subject to two investigations, by the Garda and by Fiosrú. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe postmortem results were inconclusive. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jun2026Family of Yves Sakila seeks outside pathologist and criticises Garda inquiry
The family commissioned an independent UK postmortem, raised concerns that the Irish postmortem did not follow best practice for suspected restraint deaths, criticised the 6-12 week toxicology delay and the refusal to share CCTV, and called for an independent investigation. Garda and Fiosrú investigations remain ongoing; postmortem results are inconclusive pending toxicology.
victim, Yves Sakila, 35, male, Congolese, non-irishYves Sakilasuspect