Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 4090Death (fatal shooting by gardaí) · Co. Dublin · 30 Dec 2020

George Nkencho inquest: brother says two gardaí visited family home before fatal shooting

At the inquest into the 2020 shooting death of George Nkencho, 27, in Clonee, Dublin, his brother Emmanuel Nkencho gave evidence that two gardaí, including Garda Desmond Mulvihill, had visited the family home in the weeks before the fatal incident on 30 December 2020. Witness footage played at the inquest showed George Nkencho facing the front door with his back to gardaí when the first shot was fired.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court13 Jan
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
42 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatWayne Swords had his nose broken in an unprovoked assault by George Nkencho at Eurospar in Hartstown Shopping Centre, west Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGeorge Nkencho, 27, from 15 Manorfields Drive, Clonee, was shot dead in the front garden of his family home by members of the Garda Armed Support Unit. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNkencho punched Wayne Swords twice in the face, the first punch breaking his nose and knocking him backwards. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGeorge Nkencho was shot dead in the front garden of his family home by members of the Garda Armed Support Unit. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne garda was isolated, holding a baton, trying to contain Nkencho who was waving a knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDesay described Nkencho as jumpy and reacting aggressively to gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDesay had serious concerns for the safety of the gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEurospar manager Niall Kinahan preferred to let Nkencho queue rather than confront him about the assault of assistant manager Wayne Swords. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNkencho was seen outside the shop talking to football coach Gav Pritchard who was trying to calm him down. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNkencho was pacing with big and bulbous eyes. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA paramedic feared for the safety of gardaí when he saw Nkencho wave a knife in the air. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatPostmistress Martina Shiels told Nkencho his next social welfare payment was not due until the following Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGeorge Nkencho, 27, died outside his home in west Dublin in December 2020 after being shot multiple times by a member or members of a Garda armed support unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMr Nkencho was reported to have punched an assistant manager of a nearby shop and was holding a knife. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí tasered Mr Nkencho twice, and he fell to the ground the second time but did not let go of the knife. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA senior garda in the control room said time did not allow for a negotiator to be called to the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA Garda dispatcher said there was no request for a negotiator from the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTwo gardaí visited the family home in the weeks leading up to the fatal shooting (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne of the officers who visited was Garda Desmond Mulvihill (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe visit was about George experiencing a mental episode (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGeorge Nkencho was shot dead by gardaí (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGeorge was raising a knife in his hand (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEmmanuel Nkencho heard three more shots after turning away (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSeveral gardaí entered the house after the shooting (irishtimes.com)
  • whatVictor Nkencho, then aged 16, greeted George on the morning of his death (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe footage shows George facing the front door with his back to gardaí when the first shot was fired (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGeorge then turned and began swinging a knife in the direction of gardaí (irishtimes.com)
  • whereNkencho lived at Manorfields Drive, Clonee. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident took place at 15 Manorfields Drive in Clonee, Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe shooting occurred shortly after midday on 30 December 2020 (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponNkencho pulled out what looked like a steak knife with a serrated edge. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe formal opening was delayed to allow for investigations by the Garda Ombudsman, Fiosrú (previously GSOC) and the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe incident was investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (now Fiosru), which concluded in June 2023 with a file submitted to the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDublin District coroner Dr Myra Cullinane opened the inquest before a jury of seven women and five men. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe inquest is expected to last two weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe formal opening was delayed to allow for investigations by Fiosrú and the DPP. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe inquest is before coroner Dr Maya Cullinane and is due to last two weeks. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherWayne Swords had worked in retail for 30 years and had been held at knifepoint previously. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNkencho's mother said something changed in him after a car crash in 2014; he began to talk to himself, hallucinate and become paranoid. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNkencho's mother said he loved football and coached in Ireland and Scotland. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherPritchard had been Nkencho's coach during a recreational studies football course in 2014. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNkencho's brothers Victor and Emmanuel and their mother Blessing attended the inquest at Dublin District Coroner's Court. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    George Nkencho’s brother says two gardaí visited in weeks leading to fatal shooting

    Emmanuel Nkencho's inquest evidence detailing prior gardaí visits to the family home, his account of the shooting, and witness footage from Alan O'Reilly showing the confrontation at 15 Manorfields Drive.

    victim, George Nkencho, 27, male, non-irish (judged from name)George Nkenchosuspect, Desmond Mulvihill, male, named, irish (judged from name)Desmond Mulvihill
  2. 16 Jan2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Garda tells George Nkencho inquest of being 'terrified' at scene of standoff

    Day 3 of the inquest heard testimony from Garda Desmond Mulvihill about the standoff, the use of tasers, and the shooting, and from Sergeant Deirdre Dempsey about mental health information being logged on the CAD system at 12.26pm.

    victim, George Nkencho, 27, male, non-irish (judged from name)George Nkencho
  3. 14 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Eyewitness tells George Nkencho inquest of ‘serious concerns’ for safety of gardaí

    Second day of the inquest; testimony from eyewitnesses Richard Desay, Eurospar manager Niall Kinahan, postmistress Martina Shiels, and football coach Gav Pritchard about events on 30 December 2020, including Nkencho's shop assault and his interaction with gardaí in Cherryfield.

    victim, George Nkencho, 27, male, non-irish (judged from name)George Nkenchovictim, Wayne Swords, male, irish (judged from name)Wayne Swords
  4. 13 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    George Nkencho inquest: Shop worker recalls ‘terrifying’ encounter over ‘unprovoked assault’

    Inquest testimony from Eurospar staff (Wayne Swords, Margaret Armstrong, Maria Beggs) and Nkencho's mother Blessing Nkencho describing the assault, his mental state after a 2014 car crash, and the Gardaí's pursuit; inquest opened by Dr Myra Cullinane before a 12-member jury, expected to last two weeks.

    victim, George Nkencho, 27, male, non-irish (judged from name)George Nkenchovictim, Wayne Swords, male, irish (judged from name)Wayne Swords