‘Justice for Yves’: Vigil held in Dublin for Congolese man

Antoinette Lukeba attends a vigil for Yves Sakila on Henry St, Dublin. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

A vigil has been held in memory of a Congolese man who died following an incident at a Dublin store last week.

Yves Sakila, aged in his 30s, was pronounced dead in hospital after an incident on Friday.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed his sympathies to the man’s family and said the incident must be “thoroughly” investigated.

Gardaí said security personnel detained a man in connection with alleged shoplifting at a retail store on Henry St after 5pm on Friday.

The detained man became unresponsive at the scene and was later pronounced dead in hospital.

Dozens of people gathered at a vigil on Henry St on Tuesday afternoon and left red roses and flowers at a site along the busy shopping street.

The crowd chanted “Justice for Yves” and “no more violence”, and carried handmade signs calling for justice to be done.

Yves Sakila: Pronounced dead in hospital after incident on Friday. Picture: Facebook

People expressed their shock at his death and said that a video of a part of the incident, which has been widely shared on social media, was particularly upsetting.

“It’s not all about the colour, I’d be out here for anybody. It could happen to anybody, it could happen to you, it could happen to me,” said Chris Kibiadi.

A woman called Lolo who lives in Dublin 24, who only wanted to give her first name, said gardaí should have been called in the incident and said the death was “painful”.

I was shocked. How many white people come to the Congo and steal diamonds and gold and everything?

Bernie Darcy said she attended the protest as a friend and a mother and thought the incident was “scandalous”.

“I was angry and upset,” she said, adding that the vigil was a good opportunity for people to grieve.

“I can’t understand why, with all the passers-by, all the people standing around, why didn’t somebody stop them?

“It could happen to any of our children, really.” 

John Kabongo attends a vigil for Yves Sakila on Henry Street. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

John Kabongo, who addressed the crowd, said his children were upset after watching the video of a part of the incident.

“We’re asking for justice to be done. No matter where you’re from, black or white, this is not fair.” 

Asked about the incident on Tuesday morning, the Taoiseach shared his “deepest sympathies” with the man’s family.

“My deepest sympathies go out to his family, and to the wider Congolese community,” Mr Martin said.

“The situation will have to be thoroughly investigated, and needs to be thoroughly investigated.

“I don’t want to prejudice the outcome of that investigation but I think a lot of people are clearly very concerned about what has transpired here.”