22.05.2026 14:10
In a tragic incident on Henry Street, one of Dublin's bustling shopping centers, Yves Sakila, accused of stealing perfume from the Arnotts store, was forcefully detained by security guards and died in the hospital. Footage of the event shared on social media sparked outrage in the country.
Henry Street, one of Dublin's busiest and most historic shopping centers, was the scene of a rare tragedy last Friday.
Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old man of Congolese origin accused of stealing perfume bottles from Arnotts, one of the city's oldest stores, was violently detained by security guards in the middle of the street.
Sakila, who was laid on the sidewalk and left motionless for minutes, died at the hospital where he was taken.
Horrifying images of the incident shared on social media caused an uproar in the country.'Resisted for Five Minutes on the Ground'Video recordings, captured by eyewitnesses on their mobile phones and rapidly spreading online, reveal the gravity of the incident.
The footage shows Yves Sakila, who had been living in Ireland since 2004, being forcefully pinned to the ground by multiple security guards.
It was recorded that one guard pressed his knee against Sakila's neck or the back of his head, while nearby mothers with strollers and shoppers watched the event in horror.
Security guards were heard shouting 'Stay on the ground!' in response to Sakila's screams. After about three minutes of cries, the young man was observed losing consciousness and becoming motionless.
Guards, realizing the situation, were seen frantically grabbing their phones. Ireland's police force (An Garda Síochána) confirmed that security personnel apprehended the suspect around 5:00 PM during the incident, but the individual lost consciousness at the scene.
It was also reported that an 80-year-old man was injured in a collision while Sakila was attempting to flee. Findings from the completed autopsy have not yet been shared with the public for the sake of the judicial investigation.
Echoes of George Floyd
Ireland on the StreetThis death brought to mind the tragedy of George Floyd, who died in 2020 due to police violence in the USA, sparking the global 'Black Lives Matter' movement.
Shane O’Curry, Director of the Irish Network Against Racism (INAR), stated that the death of a black man in this manner deeply shakes minority communities' trust in the justice system, expressing serious concerns about the use of excessive force.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the parliament building on Thursday, chanting slogans like 'Justice for Yves, dignity for everyone.'
Demonstrators carried banners arguing that the traditional Irish welcome phrase 'Céad Míle Fáilte' should apply to everyone, not just white people. Officials from the Congolese community emphasized that their members no longer feel safe on the streets of Ireland.
Political Repercussions and InvestigationThe tragedy has also stirred Irish politics. Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the incident as 'deeply concerning' in a speech to parliament and ordered a full investigation into all its aspects.
The event further escalated political tension, coming shortly after former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's controversial remarks about Congolese asylum seekers during his election campaign, for which he later apologized.
Arnotts, the store where the incident occurred, issued an official statement expressing deep sorrow. The company stated, 'No retail security incident should result in death,' announcing they would urgently review their contract with the independent security firm and all internal procedures. As the extensive judicial process led by the Garda Ombudsman (Fiosrú) continues, citizens leave hundreds of red roses and condolence flowers daily at the site of the tragedy on Henry Street.
The public is now closely watching whether justice will be served.