Ireland’s Black community opens up about racism after ‘George Floyd moment’ | Race Issues News
Activist Speaks Out After Racial Incidents in Dublin
Emer O’Neill, a 40-year-old Black Irish woman and activist, experienced three racially charged incidents in her neighborhood south of Dublin last month. Over a two-week period, she was yelled at by teenagers, confronted with a derogatory question about her ability to speak English, and verbally assaulted at a local pub.
“I don’t have another country to go to. This is my country,” O’Neill said, expressing her frustration amid the encounters. O’Neill, known for her role in presenting Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day parade on national television, was visibly shaken while performing at an event commemorating Yves Sakila, a 35-year-old Irish national who died during an alleged shoplifting incident on May 15.
Video footage showed security guards at the department store Arnotts placing their knees on Sakila’s neck for over four minutes. Sakila, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, immigrated to Ireland at 13. His death has drawn comparisons to the killing of George Floyd in the United States, prompting discussions about systemic racism in Ireland.
Sakila had been living on the streets at the time of his death, struggling with the aftermath of his adoptive parents’ separation. Lassane Ouedraogo from the Africa Solidarity Centre, who knew Sakila for five years, described him as a “gentleman” who needed assistance rather than violence. No arrests have been made in connection with his death.
Ouedraogo commented on the apparent lack of accountability, stating, “We don’t need specialists to see the video and understand how he died.”
In the aftermath of Sakila’s death, members of Ireland’s minority communities have expressed concern over the national narrative surrounding racism. This sentiment surged after former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was filmed making controversial remarks about immigration during a campaign for his party earlier this month. Current Taoiseach Micheal Martin distanced himself from Ahern’s comments but noted that the party cannot control the actions of its members during campaigns.
Sandrine Ndahiro, a literary critic at Maynooth University, participated in a vigil for Sakila and lamented how everyday life continued for many people that day. “They would have shut if a white person had died,” she stated.
Zainab Obasuyi, a PhD researcher at Technological University Dublin, shared her experience with racism and the defensive attitudes often encountered when discussing the issue. “Irish society is too scared to be called racist,” she said.
Jackie McCarthy O’Brien, a former athlete who represented Ireland in football and rugby, also reflected on her experiences being perceived as an outsider despite her achievements. “The only way people wouldn’t question my Irish identity was if I wore the green jersey,” she remarked.
As discussions around race intensify, the perception of Sakila’s identity has also been a point of contention. Critics argue that media references to him as a “Congolese man” have overshadowed his Irish citizenship.
A recent protest against racism outside the Irish parliament saw a small group of counter-protesters demanding that immigrants leave Ireland. According to a survey conducted by the Central Statistics Office in 2025, 49 percent of individuals from Black Irish and Black African backgrounds report having faced discrimination in the country.
The situation surrounding Sakila’s death continues to develop. An initial autopsy yielded inconclusive results, and further toxicology reports are expected to take weeks. A second autopsy will be conducted by an independent forensic pathologist. The national police have referred the case to the ombudsman, while Ebun Joseph, the special rapporteur on racism and racial equality in Ireland, has called for an independent investigation.
Arnotts issued a statement confirming its cooperation with authorities but has not yet released security footage to Sakila’s lawyer. DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner has met with Irish officials, including President Catherine Connolly, regarding the case. Meanwhile, Ahern has not issued an apology for his comments.
“If people in power don’t apologize, how can you expect a racist neighbor to apologize?” Ndahiro added.
