The Garda watchdog’s investigation into the shooting of George Nkencho has been concluded, the Sunday Independent said.
Nkencho, 27, was shot dead on the porch of his home in Clonee, west Dublin, in December 2020 after a confrontation with gardaí, during which he refused to drop a knife.
In accordance with the protocol, An Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was appointed to investigate the circumstances of his death.
Gsoc’s “draft research report” has now been submitted for external peer and legal review before being submitted to the watchdog’s three commissioners for evaluation.
Several options will be available to Gsoc: it may recommend no further action if it determines that gardaí has no case to answer; it may send a file to the DPP’s office, which may consider criminal charges; or it may recommend that some officers be subject to disciplinary procedures handled internally by An Garda Síochána.
“While good progress has been made towards completion, this investigation remains open. As the investigation is still ongoing, Gsoc does not intend to comment further at this time,” a Gsoc spokeswoman said.
The watchdog had said it would complete the investigation in December, the first anniversary of Mr Nkencho’s death.
Some of his siblings witnessed the shooting while at the front door when an armed officer opened fire. Shortly before that, Gloria Nkencho had tried to tell Gardaí that she could help and that her brother had a mental illness.
However, when officers tried to contain the potential for violence, she had to retreat inside. Mr Nkencho was fatally shot at 12.35pm.
Before the shooting, Gardaí had attempted to disarm him using gradual police action after allegedly assaulting a shopkeeper at a Eurospar 23 minutes earlier.
Garda units arrived and followed him, repeatedly asking him to drop the knife. He refused and threatened officers when they tried to approach him.
By the time he reached his home, two members of the Armed Support Unit were on the scene and took over.
Armed officers did not know it was his house and feared he might take the people inside.
He had been pepper sprayed and there were two attempts to taser him.
Mr Nkencho remained in possession of the knife and continued to threaten officers. Gardaí then opened fire.