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GARDAÍ is taking a “step back” in Clonee, Dublin, in an effort to defuse the situation after an officer shot and killed George Nkencho this week.
Interest rates remain high in the Dublin 15 area after several incidents of disorder and protests on Thursday.
A source said that Gardaí was trying to defuse the situation and has been speaking with Mr. Nkencho’s family.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is conducting an investigation into his tragic death.
When contacted, a GSOC spokeswoman said she could not comment on the case because “investigations are ongoing.”
High-level sources said Nkencho’s family met with Garda’s top management at the service’s Blanchardstown station Thursday morning while a protest was taking place outside. A smaller protest took place yesterday.
“This is an investigation that is now entirely up to the GSOC: a male guard from the Armed Support Unit (ASU) fired five shots and that is the focus of the investigation,” said the source.
“All the Gardaí, including him, who were at the scene are now classified as witnesses in the investigation that is independent of An Garda Síochána.”
Candlelight vigils have been held across the country in memory of Mr. Nkencho.
They took place at Spire, O’Connell Street, Dublin; Eyre Square, Galway and other places at 3pm yesterday.
The 27-year-old was shot in the garden of his home by officers in West Dublin at around 12:35 pm on Wednesday and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Sources previously said that an ASU officer’s decision to shoot was because the highly trained garda believed there was an “imminent threat to life.”
“He had been pepper sprayed and tase applied, but when this did not work, the use of deadly force was required. There were concerns that he might kill someone,” said a senior source.
Locals are still “reeling” from the tragedy, Fine Gael councilman Ted Leddy said, calling for calm after the week’s protests.
“I would like to express my condolences to his family and ask for calm for the investigation to continue,” he said.
“The community is shocked. It is an extremely rare event and people don’t know what to do.”
Fianna Fáil Councilor Howard Mahony said that engagement should be made with local representatives if there are community members who feel they are in trouble or have been “mistreated.”
“There is a lot of anger and pain,” he said.
“We need participation and we have to solve any problems. The public needs to get involved with the elected representatives to see if we can fix this.
“Do not be silent, that’s what we are here for,” he urged the community.
Earlier this week, Nkencho’s sister asked the public not to share videos of her brother being shot after images circulated on social media.
In a statement posted on social media, he said that he had been “suffering from a serious mental illness and those who knew him know the type of person he was, he was not a bully or a criminal.”
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