Jury returns narrative verdict in inquest into death of George Nkencho
By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association
A jury has returned a narrative verdict in the inquest of George Nkencho.
The jury deliberated for around four hours before returning its verdict summarising the events that led to Mr Nkencho’s death in west Dublin in December 2020.
The jury also made a number of recommendations in relation to gardaí, including in relation to body-worn cameras.
Mr Nkencho, 27, the eldest of five siblings, died after being shot by gardaí outside his home.
It’s hoped that these proceedings clarified certain facts for the family and for the public more broadly
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane thanked the jury and expressed her condolences to the Nkencho family, who were present at Dublin District Coroner’s Court for the length of the three-week inquest.
“It’s hoped that these proceedings clarified certain facts for the family and for the public more broadly,” she said.
“However, George’s death remains a deep and tragic loss for your family and I offer you my very deepest condolences on that loss.”
Dr Cullinane had earlier told the jury there were two verdicts available to them, death by misadventure or the narrative verdict.
She told them death by misadventure is defined as an unintended outcome of an intended and lawful action, while a narrative verdict was a “neutral” account of the “multi-factorial” circumstances of the event.
The incident was the subject of an independent criminal investigation by a Garda oversight body, which concluded in June 2023 with the submission of an investigative file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A decision was made not to pursue any criminal prosecution in relation to the shooting.
An inquest into his death has been running at Dublin District Coroner’s Court over the last three weeks.
The inquest has heard from shop workers and customers who described seeing Mr Nkencho punch an assistant manager at a Eurospar in Hartstown, and members of the public in the shop that day.
The jury also heard evidence from Mr Nkencho’s mother, Blessing, and his brothers and sisters, some of whom were in the family home when the scene unfolded outside.
They also heard from members of the public who witnessed the incident outside the Nkencho home and were shown a mobile phone video taken by a passerby as well as transcripts from emergency calls.
Gardaí told the inquest of their interactions with Mr Nkencho as he walked home, and told the inquest how he had waved a knife towards them and that they feared for their lives.
The Garda who shot Mr Nkencho, referred to as Garda A at the inquest, said they believed they would be killed if they did not use lethal force.
A state pathologist told the inquest Mr Nkencho had been shot six times – identifying one of the wounds as “definitely” fatal as it pierced the heart and lung, but said others were also “quite significant”.
