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The family of George Nkencho who was shot dead by armed garda\u00ed in Dublin have described life as a \u201cgift\u201d and urged people \u201cnot to waste it\u201d.<\/p>\nThe family of George Nkencho who was shot dead by armed garda\u00ed in Dublin have described life as a \u201cgift\u201d and urged people \u201cnot to waste it\u201d.<\/p>\n
A memorial for the 27-year-old, who died on December 30th, was held near Mr Nkencho\u2019s home in west Dublin on Sunday.<\/p>\n
There were emotional scenes as family and friends gathered together to remember him and release balloons in the colors of his favorite team, Manchester United.<\/p>\n
A minute\u2019s silence was held after speeches were made and his name was read out 21 times.<\/p>\n
Mr Nkencho was described as a \u201cbeautiful guy\u201d and a \u201cgreat friend, brother and son\u201d who was \u201ckind\u201d.<\/p>\n
His sister Gloria Nkencho said: \u201cThe one thing that I\u2019ve realized in all of this is life is a gift. Every day we stand here it\u2019s a gift. It is a gift to be breathing. If you are still breathing, no matter what problems you\u2019re facing, what challenges are coming, you can survive it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to think about George and as we release these balloons I want everyone to think about everything it is that\u2019s weighing them down and watch it float away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatch it go into the sky and never come back again. You are on this Earth for a reason.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake the opportunity, take the gift. Don\u2019t waste it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family thanked those who turned out to support them.<\/p>\n
Ms Nkencho said: \u201cWords cannot begin to describe the appreciation that my family has for each and every single one of you here. Not all of you knew George, but some of you did.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegardless, you\u2019re all here standing here with our family. It\u2019s the love you have for me, my parents, my siblings that\u2019s brought you here and because you know what\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n
George\u2019s brother Emmanuel said: \u201cWe loved the same stuff, the same team. We played the same position, the same music.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to see him go like that. I wish that day had played out a different scenario than what I witnessed. I personally think there\u2019s many other ways that the scenario could have played out, I wish it did.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cNobody knew that was going to be his last moments. I wish, I wish that we could have seen him right before any of this happened because I know me or one of my siblings would have been able to talk to him, to speak to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
George\u2019s friend Jessica told the crowd that she never saw her friend as someone who got into trouble and that he always stuck up for her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was well known by everybody, nice, kind, \u201cshe said. \u201cIf this could have happened to anyone it shouldn\u2019t have been him. Not him of all people. He didn\u2019t deserve this.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s just gone too soon. That\u2019s all I can say. I want him to come back but it\u2019s only wishful thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
His friend Paddy said: \u201cGeorge was a beautiful guy, a great friend, a great brother, a great son. Nobody needs to go through this kind of thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease, please everybody here don\u2019t give up on this. Let\u2019s fight. Let\u2019s keep going. We need to get justice for George. Black lives matter. George\u2019s life mattered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Nkencho was shot multiple times outside his home in Clonee on December 30.<\/p>\n
He was allegedly brandishing a knife and threatened gardai before he was shot.<\/p>\n
The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has launched a criminal investigation into the shooting.<\/p>\n
Supporters and friends of the family have been demanding answers about the circumstances surrounding his death, holding protests outside Garda stations.<\/p>\n