The armed officer claimed he had only used his Heckler & Koch MP7 firearm after efforts to disarm Mr Nkencho by using tasers and pepper spray had proved ineffective. Garda McCarrick said the door was only open for “split seconds” before it was closed again. The witness said he could not remember which way Mr Nkencho was facing when he was shot as it was “a fluid situation and George was moving so much". However, the witness said Mr Nkencho refused to give him any more information. Garda McCarrick said he had considered using pepper spray on Mr Nkencho but felt it was unsafe at the time to do so.

Source: Irish Examiner January 24, 2026 07:11 UTC