The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) is very concerned about the news that a man, believed to be Mr Yves Sakila, has died from suspected asphyxiation following his apprehension for an alleged shoplifting incident in Arnotts in Dublin on Friday 15 May. Nobody deserves to die for being suspected of shoplifting. Something clearly went terribly wrong. News of the tragedy is doubly shocking as some newspapers have reported that Mr Sakila is said to have “become unresponsive” after Gardai arrived on the scene.
A very disturbing 4m44s video has since emerged which appears to show the man on the ground being subdued by several men, who appear to be security guards and management at Arnotts. One of the men is seen to shift his weight onto his knee to drive it into the neck and head region of the subdued man. The man on the ground is heard shouting in distress as several men are kneeling on his body and the men shout several times for him to “stay down” while holding his neck and pinning his body to the ground with their combined weight. By the end of the 4m44s video we have seen, the man appears motionless. Gardai do not appear to have arrived on the scene at this stage.
Shane O’Curry, Director of INAR said “At INAR we are extremely disturbed by the reports of the incident, and we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Sakila. We are very concerned that this case appears to have the hallmarks of a case of excessive use of force. The death of a black man in such circumstances is extremely worrying, and we urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate all of the circumstances leading to this man’s death, in order to ensure minority ethnic community confidence in the criminal justice system.”
Monday 18 May 2026. Dublin.