Relatives of George Nkencho initiate High Court personal injury actions

Relatives of George Nkencho, who was shot dead by gardaí more than a year ago, have initiated High Court personal injury actions against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice and the State arising from his death.

Actions by Gloria Nkencho and her brothers Emmanuel and Victor have been lodged, solicitor David Harrington of Harringtons LLP solicitors, confirmed on Thursday. Mr Harrington declined to make any further comment.

Actions were also lodged later on Thursday by five other witnesses to the incident in which Mr Nkencho died.

It is understood that the actions involve claims for nervous shock arising from the death of Mr Nkencho on December 30th, 2020. The 27-year-old was shot dead by a member of the Garda Armed Support Unit outside his home in Clonee, Dublin 15, during a stand-off with gardaí. He was armed with a knife and suffering from mental health difficulties at the time.

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An inquest into his death has been repeatedly adjourned pending the conclusion of an inquiry by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc). Gardaí said they had tried multiple non-lethal tactics to subdue Mr Nkencho before using deadly force.

At the opening of the inquest in June of last year, coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said Mr Nkencho died from “multiple gunshots wounds to the trunk with no contributory factors” before adjourning the matter.

At the time Gsoc said its inquiry was “partway” complete and that it hoped to have it finished by the end of last year. It said in December that this deadline would not be met due to the “demands of the investigation”.

The full inquest cannot take place until the investigation concludes but it could be delayed further if Gsoc decides to recommend to the Director of Public Prosecutions that charges be brought over the shooting.

Legal sources believe the civil proceedings will not be progressed until the Gsoc inquiry, the inquest and any criminal proceedings have concluded.