Taser deployed four times before fatal shooting of George Nkencho, inquest hears

Seán McCárthaigh

Taser devices were deployed by members of the Garda Armed Support Unit on four occasions over the space of 21 seconds before the fatal shooting of George Nkencho outside his home in west Dublin five years ago, an inquest has heard.

The former head of the firearms training unit at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, Sergeant James Ryan, provided a detailed analysis of the deployment of tasers by two ASU officers during the fatal incident.

Data downloaded from the devices showed one member of the ASU – known only as Garda B – first activated his taser for five seconds at 12:35:13 and twice more over the next 21 seconds.

It also revealed that Garda A – who fired the fatal shots with a Heckler & Koch MP7 firearm – had deployed his taser for seven seconds at 12:35:18.

The inquest heard it was the second of four attempts to apply an electric shock to Mr Nkencho in an attempt to disarm him from a knife he was using to threaten gardaí.

Evidence was heard earlier this week that the first use of the taser knocked Mr Nkencho to the ground for a brief period, while the other uses appeared to have had no effect on him after he got back on his feet.

Mr Nkencho (27) died after suffering fatal gunshot wounds in the incident outside his family home at Manorfields Drive, Clonee, Co Dublin, on December 30th, 2020, shortly after he had been involved in a disturbance at a nearby supermarket.

The young man, the eldest of five siblings whose family originally came from Nigeria, was pronounced dead a short time later at Connolly Hospital,l Blanchardstown.

The inquest previously heard evidence that Mr Nkencho had carried out an unprovoked assault on a manager at the Eurospar store in Hartstown, as well as threatening staff with a knife shortly before the fatal incident.

The deceased’s family claim the level of force used against him was disproportionate. However, the DPP directed that no prosecution should arise over the circumstances of Mr Nkencho’s death following an investigation by Fiosrú (formerly known as the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission).

Sgt Ryan, who coordinated the training course for ASU officers, told the seventh day of the inquest into the death of Mr Nkencho that tasers were “very unlikely” to have an effect if the target was wearing bulky clothing.

In reply to questions from the coroner, Myra Cullinane, he said gardaí should consider resorting to other resources “depending on the level of threat,” if tasers were proving ineffective.

Sgt Ryan said gardaí would be justified in the use of lethal force to stop a threat to someone’s life.

In some circumstances, he said gardaí could hope for back-up support, which would provide other resources like a 40mm launcher, but such a scenario was not always practicable.

Sgt Ryan said tasers were visibly effective if “a good connection” was made with a target, when they would be expected to fall to the ground.

He explained that the target’s muscles would lock, which could prevent them from putting their hands out to break a fall.

Sgt Ryan said the taser would remain effective until the connection was broken.

The witness said he could not comment on the effectiveness of the pepper spray used during the incident, which the inquest heard was past its use-by date.

Sgt Ryan confirmed that ASU members were trained to recognise vulnerable individuals or people with mental health issues as part of their course, including that there is no guarantee of their compliance with instructions.

He said armed gardaí might discern someone had mental health problems depending on how they reacted to verbal commands, and it was something to take into account if suspects did not engage.

Sgt Ryan said ASU members were trained to try and minimise a risk and to contain a situation as best as they could, but there were circumstances where they might “have to act.”

He told the hearing that bullets used with the MP7 firearm were designed to go through body armour but to stop within a target’s body.

Counsel for the deceased’s family, Eanna Molloy SC, noted that four of the six bullets fired at Mr Nkencho had exit wounds from his body.

Sgt Ryan told Mr Molloy that he could not recall that gardaí used specialist psychological trainers for training ASU members on dealing with unfolding situations.

However, he stressed that gardaí were trained “to make decisions on what they are presented with.”

In response to questions from counsel for An Garda Síochána, Ronan Kennedy SC, Sgt Ryan said ASU members would have to undergo regular refresher training in the use of firearms and less lethal weapons as well as scenario training.

The witness said the training course for ASU gardaí had “rigorous standards.”

The inquest heard that Garda A has successfully passed all tests on the use of firearms with “very high scores” in his final exams, and there were “no issues” with his performance.

During a brief verbal clash between legal representatives, Mr Molloy claimed Garda A had “jumped the gun and turned up the heat” before Dr Cullinane intervened.

The inquest before a jury of five women and four men is continuing this afternoon.