35-year-old Man Dies in Dublin After Police Physically Restrained Him for 5 Minutes

A 35-year-old Congolese man, Yves Sakila, has died after being restrained by security guards outside a department store in Dublin following an alleged shoplifting incident.

Mr Sakila was pronounced dead in hospital after he was pinned to the ground outside Arnotts on Friday afternoon. The incident reportedly began after security personnel accused him of stealing perfume bottles from the store.

Videos circulating online appear to show several men holding Mr Sakila face-down on the pavement for nearly five minutes. In the footage, one of the guards allegedly placed a knee on the back of his head or neck while bystanders, including mothers with prams, looked on. Mr Sakila could be heard screaming as guards repeatedly shouted at him to “stay down.”

After several minutes, he appeared to stop responding, prompting the guards to release him. One of the men was later seen pulling up his hood and making a phone call while appearing visibly shaken.

According to Irish police, security staff detained Mr Sakila shortly after 5pm in connection with an alleged theft before he became unresponsive at the scene. He was rushed to hospital, where he was later confirmed dead.

Mr Sakila had reportedly lived in Ireland since 2004.

The incident has sparked outrage and concern among minority communities across Ireland, with many describing the footage as disturbing and demanding accountability.

Irish Prime Minister said the case must be fully investigated.

“The full circumstances of what happened need to be examined and investigated fully and thoroughly. The situation is deeply concerning,” he told parliament on Tuesday.

Police confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing. Authorities also stated that a man in his 80s sustained injuries during the confrontation as Mr Sakila allegedly attempted to flee.

Ireland’s police watchdog, Fiosrú, has also launched an examination into the incident following a referral from law enforcement authorities.