Case No. 0202Death · Co. Dublin · 15 May 2026
Gardaí appeal for witness after death of Yves Sakila on Henry Street, Dublin
Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old Congolese man, died on 15 May 2026 after being restrained on the ground by security personnel outside Arnotts on Henry Street, Dublin, following an alleged shoplifting incident. He was unresponsive when gardaí arrived, and although CPR was performed, he was pronounced dead at Mater Hospital. The Serious Crime Unit at Store Street is investigating, and the post-mortem report has been received but not released for operational reasons. On 4 October 2026, gardaí issued a renewed witness appeal seeking a young woman who was knocked to the ground during the incident. The death prompted protests in Dublin and a call by the special rapporteur on racism for an urgent independent investigation.
- Reported4 Oct
3 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old Congolese man, was pursued by security personnel following an alleged shoplifting incident from Arnotts.
- As Sakila attempted to flee, an elderly man was knocked to the ground and injured, and Sakila was detained by a group of security personnel and held face down on the ground for several minutes.
- Sakila appeared to be in distress before becoming motionless, and was unresponsive when gardaí arrived.
- Gardaí handcuffed Sakila, then removed the handcuffs and performed CPR before he was taken by ambulance to Mater Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
- Where
- The incident occurred outside Arnotts on Henry Street between Moore Street and Coles Lane, Dublin.
- When
- The incident occurred between 5pm and 5.25pm on Friday, 15 May 2026.
- Investigation
- The Serious Crime Unit at Store Street Garda Station is investigating, and the post-mortem report has been received but not released for operational reasons.
- On 4 October 2026, gardaí issued a renewed witness appeal seeking a young woman in her late teens or early 20s who was knocked to the ground during the incident.
- Other details
- Sakila had lived in Ireland since 2004 and grew up in Galway and west Dublin.
- The death led to protests in Dublin attended by Congolese and other African communities, and the special rapporteur on racism called for an urgent independent investigation.
42 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSakila was pursued by security personnel following an alleged shoplifting incident (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAn elderly man was knocked to the ground and injured as Sakila attempted to flee (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatSakila was detained by a number of security personnel and held on the ground (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBystander footage shows Sakila being restrained on the ground for several minutes (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSakila appeared to be in distress before becoming motionless (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was unresponsive when gardaí arrived (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCPR was carried out before he was taken by ambulance to Mater Hospital (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe was later pronounced dead at Mater Hospital (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman sought is described as a white female in her late teens or early 20s with dark hair (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe woman was wearing a khaki-coloured waist-length coat, black crop top, blue jeans cut at the knees and black Adidas runners (irishmirror.ie)
- whatSakila was Congolese and in his mid-30s (irishtimes.com)
- whatSakila was suspected of shoplifting from Arnotts (irishtimes.com)
- whatSakila had been held on the ground by a group of security guards when gardaí arrived (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí handcuffed Sakila in an attempt to control the situation (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí realised Sakila was unwell almost immediately after the handcuffs were applied (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí removed the handcuffs and began performing CPR (irishtimes.com)
- whatSakila was taken to Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead (irishtimes.com)
- whatVideo footage showed a group of men, at least some security personnel, holding Sakila face down on the pedestrianised street (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe woman was described as a white female with dark hair, in her late teens to early twenties, wearing a khaki coat, black crop T-shirt, blue jeans, and black Adidas runners (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe death led to protests in Dublin attended by Congolese and other African communities (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe was 35 years old (dublinlive.ie)
- whatHe was of Congolese nationality (dublinlive.ie)
- whatHe had lived in Ireland since 2004 and grew up in Galway and west Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
- whatHe had been pursued by security personnel following an alleged shoplifting incident (dublinlive.ie)
- whatSakila was detained by security personnel and held on the ground (dublinlive.ie)
- whatBystander footage shows him being restrained on the ground for several minutes (dublinlive.ie)
- whatHe appeared to be in distress before becoming motionless (dublinlive.ie)
- whatWhen gardaí arrived he was unresponsive (dublinlive.ie)
- whatCPR was carried out before he was taken by ambulance to Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred outside Arnotts on Henry Street between Moore Street and Coles Lane (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident unfolded on Henry Street between Moore Street and Coles Lane (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident unfolded on Henry Street between Moore Street and Coles Lane, Dublin (dublinlive.ie)
- whenYves Sakila died on Friday, 15 May 2026 (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred between 5pm and 5.25pm on 15 May 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 15 May 2026 at around 5pm (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred between 5pm and 5.25pm on Friday, 15 May (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí issued a renewed appeal for witnesses including a young woman (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPostmortem results were received but not released for operational reasons (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe completed post-mortem report has been received by detectives (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is being conducted by the Serious Crime Unit at Store Street Garda Station (dublinlive.ie)
- otherSakila had lived in Ireland since 2004 and grew up in Galway and west Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Justice for Yves Sakila Campaign organised a March for Justice in peaceful protest (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Oct2026Gardai seek woman who was knocked to ground during fatal Henry Street incident
Gardaí are appealing for a specific young woman knocked to the ground during the incident; the post-mortem report has been received; the Serious Crime Unit at Store Street is investigating.
- 4 Oct2026Young woman knocked down in fatal Henry St incident urged to come forward
Renewed witness appeal; postmortem results received but not released for operational reasons; protests held in Dublin; Congolese foreign minister met Sakila's family; special rapporteur on racism called for urgent independent investigation.
victim, Yves Sakila, mid-30s, male, Congolese, non-irishYves Sakilavictim, late teens to early 20s, femalevictim, male - 4 Oct2026Gardai seek woman who was knocked to ground during fatal Henry Street incident
Gardaí are appealing for a young woman knocked to the ground during the incident and for anyone in the area between 5pm and 5.25pm on 15 May 2026. The post-mortem report has been received by detectives but details are not being released for operational reasons.
victim, Yves Sakila, 35, male, Congolese, non-irishYves Sakilavictim, elderly, malevictim, late teens or early 20s, female