Two security guards involved in an incident outside a Lidl store in which a man appeared to be kicked unconscious have been taken off duty pending an investigation.
Gardai are now probing the public order incident outside the supermarket on Talbot Street in Dublin city centre on the evening of Friday, February 11.
Videos shared on social media showed a confrontation between a man and two other men wearing security uniforms on the path outside the store.
Lidl Ireland has confirmed it is investigating the circumstances of the incident involving security guards who were working at the Dublin outlet.
Security is provided to Lidl on a contracted basis by Lodge Service Ltd, which has also confirmed it is probing the altercation.
Lodge Service managing director Liam Gleeson confirmed the two security guards involved had been removed from duty.
He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Lodge Service has commenced a full investigation into the incident that occurred on Talbot Street Dublin.
“We cannot comment on the status of individual officers, only to say that whilst this investigation is taking place the officers involved will not be deployed for duty. We are aware of the Garda investigation into the incident, and we are cooperating fully with that process.”
Videos circulated on social media after the incident showed both security guards trying to restrain a man before blows are exchanged between all three.
Glass bottles fall from the man’s shopping bags in the scuffle and the two security guards proceed to punch him before he is knocked to the ground.
Several onlookers can be heard telling them to stop hitting the man before one of the two guards grabs him and says: “Who’s the boss?”
The man lashes out and the video ends with one of the security guards kicking him in the face as he appears to be knocked unconscious.
The Irish Sunday Mirror asked Lidl if it had any plans to review its security.
A Lidl spokeswoman said: “Security were responding to an incident with a customer. This is currently being investigated further.”
Gardai confirmed they were probing a public incident outside the premises, adding: “No arrests have been made.”
