Dozens of people protest in Dublin after shooting George Nkencho

A group of up to 150 people have protested for the second day in a row after the fatal shooting of George Nkencho.

The Gardaí shot Nkencho (27) several times outside his home in Clonee, west of Dublin, on Wednesday.

Mr Nkencho reportedly brandished a knife and threatened Gardaí before he was shot by members of the Blanchardstown Garda Armed Support Unit.

In a statement on Twitter, Nkencho’s sister, Gloria, said that “he suffered 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.”

On Friday, a group of about 150 people held a candlelight vigil before marching from the Spire on Dublin’s O’Connell Street to Pearse Street Garda Station.

The protesters chanted “no justice, no peace”, “say his name, George Nkencho” and then, “five shots killed him” and “fuck the police.”

Those gathered wore black, wore face masks, and largely adhered to social distancing measures.

Signs were put up with the words “Black lives matter” and “Thug is not synonymous with black.”

Several people spoke at the meeting, most of them young people in their early 20s.

They were critical of the Gardaí and also spoke out against Ireland’s direct provision system.

About a dozen uniformed Gardaí attended, but kept their distance from the protesters, who remained at peace throughout the event.

On Thursday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she understood the “concern and discomfort” the incident had caused.

She told RTÉ: “I think everyone, including the guards, understands the current concern and discomfort. Therefore, they are actively engaging with the community.

“It is extremely important that we allow the process to run its course. GSOC [Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission] We have already started that investigation and obviously we need to know all the facts of what happened ”.

Writing on Twitter, Ms McEntee said: “Gardaí is getting involved with the local community and I know they understand their concerns and anxieties.

“We are fortunate to have very few police-related deaths in Ireland, but all are fully and independently investigated by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

“The GSOC is headed by a Supreme Court Justice, and its independent investigation has already begun into the events in Hartstown.”

Gardaí was called to a business location in Hartstown on the Co Meath / Dublin border at 12.15pm on Wednesday.

In a statement, Garda said there was a chase on foot and the man threatened officers with a knife.

“Members of the Armed Support Unit arrived at a location on Manorfields Drive, Dublin 15,” the statement said.

“The Armed Support Unit was also threatened with a knife and implemented a gradual police response in which the use of less-than-lethal force options was initially administered in an effort to resolve the incident.

“The less lethal use of force options were unsuccessful and several shots were fired with an official Garda firearm at approximately 12:35 pm”

It is understood that Gardaí unsuccessfully used a Taser pistol and pepper spray before the shots were fired.

Mr. Nkencho was treated at the scene before being transferred to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown, where he was pronounced dead.

The GSOC was notified of the incident and attended the scene. Investigations continue.