Tomás Ó Flatharta

On May 19 2026 Ebun A Joseph posted this important message on her facebook page

Yves Sakila is dead. A man lost his life on the streets of Dublin over an alleged case of shoplifting. Let that sink in.

What makes this even more disturbing is that, had the 4:44 minutes footage not emerged, many people would likely have accepted a simplified version of events without questioning what actually happened. The video raises deeply troubling questions: multiple men restraining one individual, excessive force being used, knees pressed onto his body, hands pulled back. It is impossible to watch without feeling shock and real distress.

No one should die over an unproven allegation of shoplifting. What were they thinking? Are people losing their humanity? 🤐

A life has been lost over something allegedly taken from a shop — something replaceable. Yves Sakila is not replaceable. He was a human being.

There is also a wider and painful reality that many Black people recognise too well: the disproportionate suspicion, surveillance, and criminalisation of Black bodies in public spaces, including shopping centres and retail environments. These experiences cannot be separated from the public concern and grief surrounding this case.

This cannot become another social media moment that fades away without accountability or answers. There must be a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into all the circumstances surrounding Yves Sakila’s death.

A man is dead. His family deserves answers. The public deserves accountability. And communities deserve reassurance that justice applies equally to everyone.

Protests are mushrooming :

Protest, Justice for Yves Sakila, Thursday May 21, 1.00pm, Dáil Éireann, Kildare Street – Stop Normalising Racism

Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) Statement :

INAR Statement on the death of Mr Yves Sakila: Monday 18 May 2026. Dublin.

The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) is very concerned about the news that a man, believed to be Mr Yves Sakila, has died from suspected asphyxiation following his apprehension for an alleged shoplifting incident in Arnotts in Dublin on Friday 15 May. Nobody deserves to die for being suspected of shoplifting. Something clearly went terribly wrong. News of the tragedy is doubly shocking as some newspapers have reported that Mr Sakila is said to have “become unresponsive” after Gardai arrived on the scene.

A very disturbing 4m44s video has since emerged which appears to show the man on the ground being subdued by several men, who appear to be security guards and management at Arnotts. One of the men is seen to shift his weight onto his knee to drive it into the neck and head region of the subdued man. The man on the ground is heard shouting in distress as several men are kneeling on his body and the men shout several times for him to “stay down” while holding his neck and pinning his body to the ground with their combined weight. By the end of the 4m44s video we have seen, the man appears motionless. Gardai do not appear to have arrived on the scene at this stage.

Shane O’Curry, Director of INAR said ”At INAR we are extremely disturbed by the reports of the incident, and we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Sakila. We are very concerned that this case appears to have the hallmarks of a case of excessive use of force. The death of a black man in such circumstances is extremely worrying, and we urge the authorities to thoroughly investigate all of the circumstances leading to this man’s death, in order to ensure minority ethnic community confidence in the criminal justice system.”

ENDS

The Irish Network Against Racism (INAR) is a national organisation which convenes a network of over 200 anti-racism organisations in Ireland. Its flagship project is the iReport.ie racist incident recording platform, which it manages as an advocacy tool for INAR network members. Since its launch in 2013, INAR has used data collected from the iReport.ie system to produce thematic and periodic shadow reports, as well as complementing our other research and policy work.

INAR’s research for the Policing Authority into the experiences of Black and Brazilian communities’ of policing in Ireland can be found here:

PABI PROJECT

INAR is a national network of organisations working collectively to highlight and combat racism in Ireland. ENAR Ireland CLG (494388) trading as INAR (Irish Network Against Racism), 28 North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1, Ireland. E: info@inar.ie T: 01 889 7110 WEB: http://www.inar.ie REPORT RACIST INCIDENTS AT: http://www.iReport.ie

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Racism in Ireland Must Be Crushed.

The statement below has been widely distributed in the Dublin Central Constituency, where a Dáil bye-election occurs on Friday May 22. Only vote for left candidates who reject racism – All Refugees Welcome!