Matt TreacyThe facts about the shooting in Hartstown today (Wednesday 30th), as currently known, are straightforward, and distressing.


George Nkencho, a man of African origin, in his late 20s, entered a Eurospar shop in Hartstown and threatened staff with a large knife. One staff member is currently in hospital after being seriously injured.


The Gardai were called. It appears that Nkencho resisted arrest, and retreated to his home, threatening Gardai repeatedly with the knife in the process. At his home, Gardai then made several attempts to arrest him, presumably on the basis that an angry man threatening people with a knife is a danger to the public.

Mr. Nkencho, it is not disputed, resisted arrest. The Gardai attempted to subdue him, using pepper spray and a taser, and Mr. Nkencho attempted to attack them with a knife. Neither the spray or the taser proved effective. Eventually he charged at the Gardai and they shot him, fatally.

No sooner had this news broken than the usual suspects were out in force, repeating lines that they apparently learned off by heart while watching CNN this summer, and wishing dearly for the opportunity to have a good protest here in Dublin.

Paul Murphy, the far-left TD for Dublin South West, won the internet race to make political hay out of the tragedy.

Not only did comrade Paul imply that the Gardaí might have deployed a group hug rather than protect themselves and others, but posed the question: “Did the fact that he was a black man affect the decisions the Gardaí made?”

But of course it is not a question is it? Murphy and the rest of them know exactly what they are at.

As does Dr. Ebun Joseph, who, naturally, was also quick out of the traps to retweet the sort of stuff that Americans will be well used to: He was “just going home”, “harmless”, maybe had psychiatric issues, had children, and so on.

Would-be Senator Ruth Coppinger claimed that the Gardaí had shot an unarmed man. Because unarmed chaps are famous for going around wielding large knives and attacking shop workers. And not to be outdone the Jedward boys, Ireland’s answer to George and Ira Gershwin, took some time off from making sure we are all socially distancing to send their virtual concerns and thoughts – though their protestations now seem to be mysteriously deleted.

One thing missing amidst the outrage seemed to be any concern for the victims of the unarmed assailant, or indeed for the Gardaí for whom the incident will possibly become a life changing event once the lefty tumbril starts rolling. Every effort will be made, fear not, to identify them, and uncover anything at all that might suggest that they shot Mr. Nkencho because he was black.

But let’s be clear: Be he black, white, yellow, or brown, Mr. Nkencho would be alive this morning had he chosen almost any other course of action other than the one that he did choose: If you charge at armed police officers wielding a knife, there’s always the risk they may take you seriously enough to shoot you. That has nothing to do with race. Ask Raoul Moat.

Some of the other social media responses to the incident were also telling. Not from the professional carers and would-be exploiters of racial tensions, but from people living in parts of west Dublin. Many of those tweeting and posting had surnames that would indicate that they are not Irish by heritage. There seemed to be little sympathy being evinced for the dead person, that’s for certain.

The reason for that is that for several years now, certain parts of north and west county Dublin have been terrorised by gangs of young Africans who engage in all manner of anti social and criminal behaviour. Very rarely do people hear of this because the people who control mostly what they want people to read and hear and to see simply do not allow reportage of such matters. And if those living under intimidation do make their voices heard, they are invariably attacked as either racist or the unwitting dupes of the cunning “far right.”

As I am writing this it would seem that there is a protest outside Blanchardstown Garda station, and some of what I’ve seen on social media I’ve seen is borderline incitement. Hopefully, those elected politicians who are stirring the pot and engaged in competition to see who can corner the market might “reflect” upon what they are at.

It would present a danger to the community in these areas, including many Africans who do not identify with criminals any more than working class Dubs do with our own crowd , if the death is used for political purposes. It would be an insult to the black Africans I know, who are decent, law-abiding people, if some Black Lives Matter bandwagon was to attempt to turn this into a vehicle for violence and hatred.

But then, there are retweets to be had, and those matter more than actual black lives.


Matt Treacy has published a number of books including histories of the Republican Movement and of the Communist Party of Ireland.
He is currently working on a number of other books; His latest one is a novel entitled Houses of Pain. It is based on real events in the Dublin underworld. Houses of Pain is published by MTP and is currently available online as paperback and kindle while book shops remain closed.

Hartstown Shooting Had Nothing To Do With Race

Matt TreacyThe facts about the shooting in Hartstown today (Wednesday 30th), as currently known, are straightforward, and distressing.


George Nkencho, a man of African origin, in his late 20s, entered a Eurospar shop in Hartstown and threatened staff with a large knife. One staff member is currently in hospital after being seriously injured.


The Gardai were called. It appears that Nkencho resisted arrest, and retreated to his home, threatening Gardai repeatedly with the knife in the process. At his home, Gardai then made several attempts to arrest him, presumably on the basis that an angry man threatening people with a knife is a danger to the public.

Mr. Nkencho, it is not disputed, resisted arrest. The Gardai attempted to subdue him, using pepper spray and a taser, and Mr. Nkencho attempted to attack them with a knife. Neither the spray or the taser proved effective. Eventually he charged at the Gardai and they shot him, fatally.

No sooner had this news broken than the usual suspects were out in force, repeating lines that they apparently learned off by heart while watching CNN this summer, and wishing dearly for the opportunity to have a good protest here in Dublin.

Paul Murphy, the far-left TD for Dublin South West, won the internet race to make political hay out of the tragedy.

Not only did comrade Paul imply that the Gardaí might have deployed a group hug rather than protect themselves and others, but posed the question: “Did the fact that he was a black man affect the decisions the Gardaí made?”

But of course it is not a question is it? Murphy and the rest of them know exactly what they are at.

As does Dr. Ebun Joseph, who, naturally, was also quick out of the traps to retweet the sort of stuff that Americans will be well used to: He was “just going home”, “harmless”, maybe had psychiatric issues, had children, and so on.

Would-be Senator Ruth Coppinger claimed that the Gardaí had shot an unarmed man. Because unarmed chaps are famous for going around wielding large knives and attacking shop workers. And not to be outdone the Jedward boys, Ireland’s answer to George and Ira Gershwin, took some time off from making sure we are all socially distancing to send their virtual concerns and thoughts – though their protestations now seem to be mysteriously deleted.

One thing missing amidst the outrage seemed to be any concern for the victims of the unarmed assailant, or indeed for the Gardaí for whom the incident will possibly become a life changing event once the lefty tumbril starts rolling. Every effort will be made, fear not, to identify them, and uncover anything at all that might suggest that they shot Mr. Nkencho because he was black.

But let’s be clear: Be he black, white, yellow, or brown, Mr. Nkencho would be alive this morning had he chosen almost any other course of action other than the one that he did choose: If you charge at armed police officers wielding a knife, there’s always the risk they may take you seriously enough to shoot you. That has nothing to do with race. Ask Raoul Moat.

Some of the other social media responses to the incident were also telling. Not from the professional carers and would-be exploiters of racial tensions, but from people living in parts of west Dublin. Many of those tweeting and posting had surnames that would indicate that they are not Irish by heritage. There seemed to be little sympathy being evinced for the dead person, that’s for certain.

The reason for that is that for several years now, certain parts of north and west county Dublin have been terrorised by gangs of young Africans who engage in all manner of anti social and criminal behaviour. Very rarely do people hear of this because the people who control mostly what they want people to read and hear and to see simply do not allow reportage of such matters. And if those living under intimidation do make their voices heard, they are invariably attacked as either racist or the unwitting dupes of the cunning “far right.”

As I am writing this it would seem that there is a protest outside Blanchardstown Garda station, and some of what I’ve seen on social media I’ve seen is borderline incitement. Hopefully, those elected politicians who are stirring the pot and engaged in competition to see who can corner the market might “reflect” upon what they are at.

It would present a danger to the community in these areas, including many Africans who do not identify with criminals any more than working class Dubs do with our own crowd , if the death is used for political purposes. It would be an insult to the black Africans I know, who are decent, law-abiding people, if some Black Lives Matter bandwagon was to attempt to turn this into a vehicle for violence and hatred.

But then, there are retweets to be had, and those matter more than actual black lives.


Matt Treacy has published a number of books including histories of the Republican Movement and of the Communist Party of Ireland.
He is currently working on a number of other books; His latest one is a novel entitled Houses of Pain. It is based on real events in the Dublin underworld. Houses of Pain is published by MTP and is currently available online as paperback and kindle while book shops remain closed.

20 comments:

  1. The first thing that struck me about the killing was not race but the justification for it. It reminds me of the Hennessy killing a number of years back. In my view it was easy to capture Hennessy without killing him. That he could be killed as readily and not elicit public sympathy was the nature of his own sordid slaying of Jastine Valdez. But a lack of public sympathy for the victim should not translate into a lack of public concern about the actions of those who killed Hennessy.
    In this case the guy was armed but not with a firearm which meant he had to be within reach of someone to pose an immediate threat to life. He was surrounded by people with firearms. Why did one of the Armed Response Unit not shoot him in the legs?
    It is a killing that should raise concerns and lots of questions. This society does not license its police to kill its citizens unless as a very last resort in circumstances where a failure to kill poses an immediate threat to life and all non-lethal alternatives for the purposes of incapacitation are not plausible.
    My primary concern is not the colour of the victim but the manner of his death.

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  2. Look into the death of John Carthy in 2000. He had a gun and was shot dead by gardai. Only they shot his legs first, and what happened? Nothing. Not a single thing, John didn't seem to even react to it. They were forced to shoot him again to end the threat. Police training is to shoot center mass, the largest target, which is where the central nervous system is. The aim being to drop the target, alive or dead. Police are trained never to fire their weapon at a person unless they intend to kill them. Sometimes the target survives, but the police must be ready to take a life if they pull the trigger.

    The incident in Dublin has a video which clearly shows George lunge at a garda with his knife and get extremely close. There's no time in a life or death situation to aim for smaller targets like the legs and just pray it stops him, not when seconds are all you have. As John Carthy proved - shooting the legs has no guarantee of doing anything.

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  3. As a matter of curiosity is there a body in the Republic equivalent to Britain's Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to which fatal police shootings are automatically referred? That needs to happen asap in this case.

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  4. Larry Hughes comments

    I worry that a combination of covid-19 policing and USA style gung ho approach where forces everywhere seem to have gone into Stazi mode intimidating and bullying people with glee on the basis of guidelines NOT laws. Surely the guy could have been shot in the legs? I heard about 8-10 shots fired it seems he was hit 3 times. Initially I wondered was he on drugs now I'm wondering were the Garda on drugs or blind folded by covid-19 masks?

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  5. Very well said Matt Treacy I completely agree with you
    Have we had an update on the person he attacked well I’ve heard not a word?
    The PC correct people always jump to the side of someone they think has been a victim of Police violence
    What do they expect the cops to do, when an armed response team appear and you’re brandishing a dangerous weapon expect the worst, they are trained to eradicate the problem not play Mum?
    As for Paul Murphy he made a stand on the water charges which I applaud but he is a politician


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  6. I know there are always variables and every situation is different. What strikes me, however, is the inability to defend against knives without using guns. Surely they could be trained to do so. A memory springs to mind when reading this, about twenty years ago, myself and a couple of mates were attacked outside a pub and one of them had a meat cleaver, we managed to fight them off with fists, a bottle and a bit of luck I suppose. The point is we were steaming, officers should be highly trained and sober.
    Watched Brit cops subdue a fella at a carnival, Notting hill maybe, he was armed with a knife and they used Shields to hem him in, it can be done.

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  7. When something like this unfortunate accident happens we all look for excuses as who where when or what should have been done , I have never been put in that situation either as the aggressor or the armed Garda so really all we are doing is speculating as to what should happen everyone has their own opinion as to how to handle these life threatening situations but remember this it was not the Garda intention to cause harm it was the aggressor , so maybe when people who resort to violence as a way of life realise that this will probably be the end result then more of these unfortunate accidents will stop repeating themselves as the old saying goes “if you play with fire you will get burned “

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  8. There is no question Nkencho was armed and dangerous. Because it was a knife, maybe he could have been harrassed and destracted, or waited out rather than rushed and killed? I can't say that there was any racial motive behind the shooting -armed Garda have not a good track record with guns -I remember how reckless they were when they had Uzi's.

    If there is racism involved its seems to be more anti-white hatred than anything. George Nkencho was no George Floyd and I have watched video of one of the public protests seeking 'justice for George' -they are not peaceful -the protesters are, in their own words, 'gunning' for the Garda involved to be killed -why is the media not reporting on the chants from the crowd?? Photos of the Garda involved are circulating on social media and the level of anti-white/anti-Irish centiment being expressed is concerning. Some are calling for any white people to be stabbed on the spot others assert that the should take the place over. Adola K. suggests robbing a bank to fund their war -he has access to a shotgun because its "Time to take over this city fuck these Irish bastards they will answer to us we run this place now."

    "Maza muna bukatar kashe Garda wadannan Irishan suma bukata dauke mu da muhimmanci agwamnati ba ta da ta da Karfi har ma sun da wani mutumin Baki daga Dubai don Kisan kai da kwayoyi Daniel Kinahan kume shi mutum daya ne kawai muke da sojojinmu muna haduwa tare za mu iya sarrafawa Lokacin Ireland don kashe wasu farin shara sun kashe George ba za mu iya barin wannan ya tafi 'yan' uwana maza da mata ba"

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  9. Boyne rover,
    While the Garda isn't the aggressor, surely they can be trained to bring non lethal force. I know they will be times when that's not possible. I think bringing a gun to a knife fight is a bit cowardly. Especially when you have back up, CS gas, batons and tasers.
    Although I'm Irish, I've probably spent an equal amount of time in Scotland and it's only recently that armed response was called to knife situations. Does that escalate or decrease the chance of violence? Was talking to an ex cop who sits just along from me at Parkhead a few years back about the standard of policing and this sort of thing came up and he reckoned part of it was modern cops are a bit soft and put self safety above all else. His attitude was if you are daft enough to pull a blade on a cop, which might have happened more than once to him, knowing Glaswegians love of knives then hell mend you, you were getting the shite kicked out you, though importantly not stiffed.
    I agree people have to take responsibility for their actions but there's complications there as well. What if the assailant is not right in head, what if he's been spiked with drugs, so on. I wouldn't like to see Europeans adopt the Yanks apparent attitude, which seems to be if you threaten a cop you deserve to die.

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  10. He had retreated to his home. Is is possible that the police only needed to contain the situation to his home and wait until he gave up or succumbed to exhaustion/hunger/withdrawal?. Could he not have been contained in a net by a mob of police wearing appropriate body armour? I accept that a crazed man with a knife is a hazard to all concerned and the safety of police dealing with the situation has to be paramount but surely killing him was not the only option open to them.

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  11. A person armed with a knife can do a lot of damage very quickly.

    Guns can and do jam.

    You come at a police officer with a knife I want the police officer to live.

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  12. Steve,
    Is that another way of saying, you pull a knife on a cop you deserve to die? You instigate violence the consequences are your own, but that's not really the point is it? The point is the standard of policing society wants. Do you want US style where the minute there's a threat lethal action is the response or a more accountable style where other tactics are deployed?
    Of course people can do damage with blades, that's why they use them, it's about the situation at hand, if you're one on one with a man with a blade intent on using it and you can, you shoot him, but they'll be other situations where the cops are team handed, have batons, CS gas, tasers, is lethal force warranted in such situations?
    Is guns jamming not an argument for alternative training? In western Europe where the chances of the populace being armed with guns is far less likely than in North America should the training on when to use lethal force not be different?
    It's a complicated issue this, I'm not comfortable with the notion that if he had a knife then shooting him is automatically justifiable.

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    1. David,

      I get your point but even expert martial artists I know say that if someone comes at you with a knife, run away. Real life isn't the movies and a knife will do a lot of damage very quickly.

      The cop also has to protect others. You pull a knife or a gun on a cop quibbling over some happy-clappy notion of non-lethal containment puts lives at risk.

      The person who comes at a cop with a knife has made the choice. I prefer the cop is able to walk away if that's the option.

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  13. David
    It’s the old woulda coulda shoulda argument I know from experience that the hit first ask questions later will keep you a lot safer and you get to go home to your family alive and well

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  14. Boyne,
    I don't disagree with that, that just common sense. I'm talking about the wider policing issue, training, protocol, mentality. If it's just about getting home safe, work in Tesco. How far could you stretch that argument? 'He threatened me, he's a known operator, so I just stiffed him, fuck it, better safe than sorry'

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  15. Boyne Rover

    Shoot first and ask questions later is not lawful killing. There is no place for shoot to kill first ask questions later and I note your disclosure of having personal experience in that. Somebody with a knife is eventually going to get tired, they probably could have safely waited him out by keeping a safe distance from him. The garda who was getting too close should be investigated because he is the one who may have caused his collegaue to open fire.

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  16. Steve,
    I'm not saying someone with murderous intent with a knife isn't dangerous, but context is important. I've spent half my life in the west of Scotland, where there's a massive knife culture. I've been stabbed, though not serious injury, slashed twice, once on the lip, once on the arm, all separate incidents, some people I know have knife injuries or inflicted them. Equating knife capabilities with guns isn't on for me, yes I know threats have to be handled but it's about judging the threat and valuing life that's not happy clappy it's a legitimate concern.
    I have family in west Scotland and West Belfast one has a knife culture, the other guns and in comparison knives are kids play. There has to be perspective when talking about threats. It's hard to find someone from the schemes in the west of Scotland who hasn't either been threatened with a knife or injured with one or used one or at least been about them and they are still about.
    I'm not trying to belittle the threat, if someone aims right the can end your life easily, my point is most times it's a drunken idiot waving it about. Ever since Jihadis starting using knives it seems we find it acceptable to shoot someone for brandishing a knife, you don't bring a knife to gun fight for a reason.

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    Replies
    1. David,

      If you had a gun and someone came at you with a knife what would you do?

      Delete
  17. Steve,
    Shoot them. I'm a dick. From my adolescence to my late twenties I was violent. That's my point. What mindset should we accept from officers. Let me be clear this isn't an anti cop agenda. I've never had a positive interaction with a cop in my life, in theory I should be all over these BLM protests but I just don't see it. From the outside looking in it seems they have a problem in the US with police brutality. Where I am in Scotland there is almost zero problems with police brutality, maybe a bit heavy handed, but it massively improved. Back home in the six, there is improvement needed but I think it would be naive in the extreme to compare them to other cops considering the circumstances that existed and the small threats that still exist, their mindset will be harder to placate.
    People who are trained in combat need to be held accountable, the training should be scrutinized and when lethal force is used, instead of automatically defending the cop, we should be analytical about it, see if anything else could've been done, what else could've been applied. If not you're in danger of a RUC thugs in uniform mentality.

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    Replies
    1. With you now. Was stunned to find out recently that cops in the US have something ridiculous like 6 weeks training then maybe 2 days a year. That's just insane. Put on top zero mental health support and no wonder the US is fucked.

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