The family of George Nkencho, a young Nigerian-Irish man shot dead by armed gardaí in December, held a memorial for the deceased 27-year-old near his Dublin home on Sunday.
Nkencho, who died after being shot by armed gardaí outside his home in Clonee on December 30, sustained six gunshot wounds and not five as previously thought, his post-mortem has found. The interim cause of death of Mr Nkencho, who had no previous convictions, was found to be two fatal gunshots to vital organs.
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According to reports, family and friends of the deceased gathered in west Dublin to remember Nkencho on Sunday and there were emotional scenes as mourners released balloons into the air in the colors of Manchester United, Nkencho’s favorite soccer team.
A minute’s silence was also held for Nkencho, while family and friends gave speeches and read his name out 21 times.
His sister Gloria Nkencho urged people to treat life as a gift in the wake of her brother’s death.
“The one thing that I’ve realized in all of this is life is a gift,” Gloria Nkencho told the crowd. “Every day we stand here it’s a gift. It is a gift to be breathing. If you are still breathing, no matter what problems you’re facing, what challenges are coming, you can survive it.
“We’re here to think about George and as we release these balloons I want everyone to think about everything it is that’s weighing them down and watch it float away.”
The family thanked those who turned out on Sunday.
“Words cannot begin to describe the appreciation that my family have for each and every single one. Not all of you knew George, but some of you did,” Gloria Nkencho said.
Meanwhile, George’s brother Emmanuel told the crowd that it was hard to see his brother “go like that”.
He said that he regretted how his brother died and believes the incident could have ended differently if family members had been able to talk to George.
“I wish that day had played out a different scenario than what I witnessed. I personally think there’s many other ways that the scenario could have played out, I wish it did,” Emmanuel Nkencho said during Sunday’s memorial.
