Gardaí 'terrified' when George Nkencho lunged towards them with knife, inquest hears

Seán McCárthaigh

Two gardaí who first confronted George Nkencho shortly before he was killed by two armed officers have recalled how they feared for their lives after he pulled out a knife and lunged towards them.

Sergeant Peter Nestor told an inquest into the fatal shooting of Mr Nkencho that he was left in no doubt that his life was in danger, while his colleague, Garda Shane Gallagher, admitted he was “terrified” when the deceased came towards him at speed.

George Nkencho (27) died after being shot by members of the Garda Armed Support Unit (ASU) in the incident outside his family home at Manorfields Drive, Clonee, Co Dublin, on December 30th, 2020, shortly after he had been involved in a disturbance at a nearby supermarket.

The young man, the eldest of five siblings whose family originally come from Nigeria, was pronounced dead a short time later at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.

The inquest previously heard evidence that Mr Nkencho had carried out an unprovoked assault on a manager at the Eurospar store in Hartstown as well as threatening staff with a knife shortly before the fatal incident.

The deceased’s family claim the level of force used against him was disproportionate. However, the DPP directed that no prosecution should arise over the circumstances of Mr Nkencho’s death following an investigation by Fiosrú, (formerly known as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission).

Sgt Nestor told the fifth day of the inquest at Dublin District Coroner’s Court that he and Garda Gallagher had been alerted to an assault by a male with a knife at the Eurospar store in Hartstown.

He outlined how they identified someone matching the suspect’s description who was walking at a normal pace on Hartstown Road.

Sgt Nestor said they pulled up their vehicle on a green area and asked Mr Nkencho to stop.

He recalled that Mr Nkencho pulled a knife out of his pocket and seemed very angry and aggressive before lunging towards him.

The witness said he had no doubt that Mr Nkencho would stab him if he could.

The inquest heard Sgt Nestor told his colleague to let him pass and they followed Mr Nkencho initially in their vehicle and later on foot at a safe distance.

He said he and other gardaí were shouting at passersby to get out of the way over fears for their safety.

Sgt Nestor said members of the ASU took control of the situation once they arrived on the scene at Manorfields Drive but Mr Nkencho failed to comply with their repeated instructions to drop his knife.

He outlined how he was shouting to people inside the house to close the front door because he was concerned for their safety.

Sgt Nestor said he initially believed ASU members had fired rubber bullets when Mr Nkencho lunged at them as they appeared to have no effect.

Sgt Nestor said Mr Nkencho had remained fully upright and was swinging wildly with his knife until the last shot was fired.

In reply to questions from coroner Myra Cullinane, Sgt Nestor said he had requested armed assistance after seeing Mr Nkencho had a knife.

He said he had not made any judgement about the deceased’s mental health and had not heard any message on a radio channel that Mr Nkencho was known to gardaí and had severe mental health problems.

Sgt Nestor said he believed he was dealing with Mr Nkencho at the time the message was broadcast.

He said he could not make out what people who came to the front door of Mr Nkencho’s house were saying as there was “a lot of screaming.”

Sgt Nestor remembered thinking Mr Nkencho had stabbed one ASU officer in the leg as he was getting up off the ground after being tasered.

He claimed there was nobody else in the driveway of the house apart from Mr Nkencho and two ASU officers.

The witness said he was in no doubt that the deceased was trying to kill the two armed gardaí.

He told counsel for the Nkencho family, Eanna Molloy SC, that he had drawn his baton when the deceased had produced a knife on the green at the Cherryfield estate because he had “an immediate fear my life was in danger.”

Garda Gallagher provided similar evidence of events and also expressed no doubt that Mr Nkencho intended to stab them when they confronted him.

He said he would retain forever the memory of how Mr Nkencho was gripping his knife.

The inquest also heard evidence about Mr Nkencho’s mental health issues from his two sisters, Gloria and Grateful, including how had contacted gardaí in June 2020 because he believed his family were trying to harm him.

Grateful Nkencho recalled that her brother was “hearing voices” at the time and gardaí had called to their home.

Ms Nkencho said his behaviour had changed in 2015 when he appeared to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder after being involved in a car accident.

She told the inquest that she had tried ringing a number of clinics the day before the fatal shooting to get help for her brother.

However, she stressed that nothing specific had happened on the day and that she had always been wanting to get help for him because of his mental health issues.

Recalling the events surrounding her brother’s death, Ms Nkencho said she found the front door to the house wide open when she went downstairs after hearing a commotion outside.

She told the inquest that she believed it must have been opened by her brother.

When she looked out, she saw him on the ground trying to pull taser wires off his body, while holding what she described as a small knife in his other hand.

She also described seeing a female garda pepper spray her brother.

Ms Nkencho said her older sister, Gloria, had tried to explain to gardaí in a loud voice that their brother was sick but claimed they did not listen to her.

The witness, who was aged 18 at the time, said her sister was “brushed away.”

“Nobody really paid attention to what she was saying,” Ms Nkencho added.

A few seconds later after she claimed the front door was closed by a garda, she heard a bang and knew it was from a gun being fired.

She claimed gardaí who subsequently came into the house refused to answer their questions and were “very rude.”

Ms Nkencho recalled that she had shouted at gardaí from an upstairs window: “You shot my brother. I hate you, you pigs.”

She outlined how they had to leave the house after it was declared a crime scene and went to their aunt, Grace who lived a short distance away where they were informed by two senior gardaí that George had died.

Her sister, Gloria, gave evidence of seeing one gardaí come behind her brother and kick him in the back with such force that she could almost hear it.

She recalled trying to explain that her brother was sick but was told to stay back before the front door was closed after about three seconds.

Ms Nkencho told the coroner that the garda she was speaking to definitely heard what he was saying, although she accepted it was “a brief interaction.”

The two sisters described how their brother was normally a peaceful friendly guy who could get paranoid and upset.

Although he was not on medication, they did not think he was on drugs but had been seeking help, although he had not been assessed by any specialist before his death.

The inquest before a jury of five women and four men was adjourned and will continue on Wednesday.