Protests Intensify Outside Arnotts Following Death of Congolese Man in Dublin

Dublin: Protests calling for a boycott of Arnotts have intensified following the death of 35-year-old Congolese national Yive Sakila after an altercation with security personnel outside the store.

Demonstrations are continuing outside the retailer’s premises near O’Connell Street, with protesters demanding accountability and justice over the incident.

Incident Took Place Last Friday Evening

According to reports, the incident occurred last Friday evening after Sakila was suspected of attempting to steal items from the store. Security staff allegedly pursued and restrained him outside the premises.

During the incident, Sakila reportedly knocked down a man in his eighties while attempting to flee, causing the elderly man to suffer a broken leg after falling to the ground.

Video footage circulating widely on social media later showed security personnel restraining Sakila on the ground for an extended period.

Witness accounts state that Sakila remained under the control of security staff for approximately 20 minutes before Gardaí arrived at the scene. Protesters and campaigners have raised questions about the duration of the restraint, noting that several Garda stations are located within close proximity of the city centre.

Reports indicate that Sakila was repeatedly restrained during this period before eventually becoming unresponsive. CPR was later administered at the scene before he was transported to Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A postmortem examination carried out to determine the exact cause of death has reportedly not yet reached a definitive conclusion.

Irish media reports state that Sakila had previously come to the attention of Gardaí and had several prior convictions related to theft offences.

He was reportedly convicted of theft in 2018 and served more than a year in prison. Last year, he also served a three-month prison sentence for theft-related offences.

In January this year, Sakila was reportedly fined €110 for stealing perfume valued at €106 from the same Arnotts store on Henry Street.

Protests and vigils have continued near the site of Sakila’s death, with members of the African community, activists and supporters participating in demonstrations.

Protesters have called for a boycott of Arnotts and urged shoppers not to purchase goods from the store. Gardaí have maintained a visible presence outside the Henry Street entrance, which has at times been temporarily closed amid tensions.

Campaigners, NGO representatives and activists also staged a protest outside the Irish parliament yesterday, demanding a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sakila’s death.

Sakila had reportedly been living in Ireland since 2004, while his mother has lived in the country since 1999. Several members of his family are still believed to reside in Ireland.

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