Disgusting homophobic attack in Portlaoise

JupiterKid · 29-06-2018 3:58am #1

I’m sure a few of you on here have heard of the despicable violent homophobic attack on a gay male couple in the midlands town of Portlaoise. Ireland may have some-sex marriage, an openly gay Taoiseach, a thriving Pride week etc. but sadly these vile incidents still occur.:(:mad:

I think it’s time for specific hate crimes to be made law here, with minimum mandatory sentencing.

Link here:
https://gcn.ie/dublin-man-husband-recovering-vicious-homophobic-attack-laois/

lottpaul · 29-06-2018 10:02am

That's horrific. My heart goes out to them - to be the target of such hatred and violence is shocking and leaves mental as well as physical scars. I agree with mandatory minimum sentencing and hope that if/when the attackers are caught and convicted that the judge throws the book at them. It sounds as if it was a premeditated attack -- why go around a town in the early hours of the morning carrying hurleys if not to attack people?
So sad to think that this happens to anyone - best wishes to them both for a speedy recovery.

BigCon · 29-06-2018 10:11am

It may have been a homophobic attack, but anyone in that area at that time of the night is likely to be attacked.
It's the only part of the town that I wouldn't go near at night (or even during the day, it's a rough area where the fire service and Gardai get attacked regularly).
I wonder if the guys knew this?
Not victim blaming, you should be able to walk anywhere, anytime, but you're more likely to be attacked in this area.
Hope he makes a speedy recovery, there's a gofundme page that he setup for his dental/medical expenses that folks can donate to...

seannash · 29-06-2018 10:22am

Absolutely horrible thing to happen.
I'm going to say something that may be unpopular but here goes. The people who did this would do this to anyone, black,white,gay,straight etc etc.
We've all seen them, they try to intimidate you and if you challenge them or they believe you have challenged them they attack.
This type of person doesn't discriminate on who they attack. Are they racist, Homophobic or sexist? They probably are and will probably use derogatory language no matter who they encounter.

The OP is absolutely right, we have one of the most tolerant societies in the world but nowhere in the world had perfect people who all hold the same belief and opinions. I believe that acceptance in sociey means that you dont have laws that offer you special treatment based on gender or sexual orientation. Rape is rape, assault is assault, murder is murder. The action is never excusable no matter what way you define the attackers motive.
The goal should be violent assault is reduced over all, set rules in place for that. Why should a vicious attack against a white woman recieve a lesser sentence than a vicious assualt against a black woman.

Ten of Swords · 29-06-2018 10:36pm

Those poor men. That's awful, those pictures are hard hitting.

They have achieved nearly double their GoFundMe target so hopefully that goes some way towards helping them move past this, at least their medical and dental needs will be looked after. Hope this doesn't take a heavy toll on heir mental wellbeing too. Wishing them a speedy recovery

Portlaoise doesn't have a reputation as a rough town (compared to some of the surrounding ones anyway) but I've only been there a few times and I'm not familiar with the Harpur's Lane area where this happened.

Hopefully there won't be any more instances of homophobia as it's pride season, there are sometimes incidents at this time of the year in the news (though not serious assaults like this one).

Mongfinder General · 29-06-2018 10:44pm

You’re taking a risk walking around almost anywhere in this country at night. There is no deterrent for these rats.

Blacktie. · 29-06-2018 10:59pm

Please explain the logic of them going to a known rough area...

harr · 29-06-2018 11:05pm

I don’t think this in particular was a homophobic attack, I recon in the wrong place at the wrong time. This group of scum who did this were walking around with hurls just looking for someone to jump..
While I imagine homophobic language was used when the gang realised the two guys were married..
As mentioned the area it happened is rough enough and is a no go area for many..

29-06-2018 11:05pm

Blacktie. wrote: »

Please explain the logic of them going to a known rough area...

The logic seems fairly simple? There is areas in every town that has dodgy characters at night and you are probably best not walking down them alone at night for your own safety. That shouldn't be the way things are but unfortunatley it is.

I wonder was this attack actually homophobic in nature or just a random attack? Hard to tell from the article.

Anyways Im not a frequent poster on these boards. I hope the guys who got attacked a speedy recovery and I hope the f**kers who did it get caught and spend a long time behind bars.

Mam of 4 · 29-06-2018 11:28pm

harr wrote: »

I don’t think this in particular was a homophobic attack, I recon in the wrong place at the wrong time. This group of scum who did this were walking around with hurls just looking for someone to jump..
While I imagine homophobic language was used when the gang realised the two guys were married..
As mentioned the area it happened is rough enough and is a no go area for many..

This .

A group of jumped up little fcukers who think they can do what they want , to whoever they want , and get away with it . They are running riot , with no consequences whatsoever, and the decent , law abiding residents are the one's bearing the brunt of it .

y0ssar1an22 · 29-06-2018 11:30pm

i'm from portlaosie. its chock ridden of scumbgs with nothing better to do than violence.

man, i'm sorry to hear about this. its disgusting

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 8:14pm

harr wrote: »

I don’t think this in particular was a homophobic attack, I recon in the wrong place at the wrong time. This group of scum who did this were walking around with hurls just looking for someone to jump..
While I imagine homophobic language was used when the gang realised the two guys were married..
As mentioned the area it happened is rough enough and is a no go area for many..

What? It wasn't a homophobic attack but they used homophobic language? I am completely missing all the logic there.

Blacktie. · 30-06-2018 8:28pm

Joeytheparrot wrote:

What? It wasn't a homophobic attack but they used homophobic language? I am completely missing all the logic there.

I assume he means it wasn't a premiditated homophobic attack. As in the guys where looking to fight anyone and when they found out they where gay they used it to fuel there hate. They didn't specifically go out to find gay people.

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 9:04pm

Blacktie. wrote: »

I assume he means it wasn't a premiditated homophobic attack. As in the guys where looking to fight anyone and when they found out they where gay they used it to fuel there hate. They didn't specifically go out to find gay people.

This makes no sense. A homophobic attack is a homophobic atrack.

harr · 30-06-2018 9:07pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

What? It wasn't a homophobic attack but they used homophobic language? I am completely missing all the logic there.

Not that hard to understand...these scum would have kicked the **** out of anybody..if the couple were black they would have used racist language...
We don’t know for sure but it doesn’t look like this group went out looking for a gay couple to bash..because I know of the area I recon they were just in the wrong place at wrong time..and they dared answered them back when a comment was made..

harr · 30-06-2018 9:08pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

This makes no sense. A homophobic attack is a homophobic atrack.

They weren’t targeted because they were gay ...

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 9:30pm

harr wrote: »

Not that hard to understand...these scum would have kicked the **** out of anybody..if the couple were black they would have used racist language...
We don’t know for sure but it doesn’t look like this group went out looking for a gay couple to bash..because I know of the area I recon they were just in the wrong place at wrong time..and they dared answered them back when a comment was made..

Frankly I find this quite bizarre. If homophobic language is used then it is a homophobic attack. I dont think you can distinguish between an attack being premeditated or not to determine if it homophobic. I find it a bizarre way of attempting to airbrush the homophobia out of the picture. It is basically saying "oh well yeah they were homophobic but they werent really homophobic because they didnt plan it" - Very very bizzare attempts to downplay and deny homophobia.

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 9:31pm

harr wrote: »

They weren’t targeted because they were gay ...

Who says?

Wailin · 30-06-2018 9:36pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Who says?

Oh get a grip will you? It has been spelled out to you yet you harp on about it making no sense. Gay or not they would have been attacked by these scumbags either way.

30-06-2018 9:37pm

Joeytheparrot wrote:

What? It wasn't a homophobic attack but they used homophobic language? I am completely missing all the logic there.

You are choosing to. Its been explained perfectly well. Anyone would have been attacked. If it was a ginger haired man, they would have called him a few choice insults about his hair.... Hardly a ginger phobic attack. A fat couple would have had insults about their weight... Not a fatshaming attack.

This was a random attack. They happened to use some insults about the victims sexuality.

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 9:47pm

Wailin wrote: »

Oh get a grip will you? It has been spelled out to you yet you harp on about it making no sense. Gay or not they would have been attacked by these scumbags either way.

Sorry what?

Just because a few randomers say a few things thats it.

Theres no need to be snappy at me.

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 9:49pm

Deleted User wrote: »

You are choosing to. Its been explained perfectly well. Anyone would have been attacked. If it was a ginger haired man, they would have called him a few choice insults about his hair.... Hardly a ginger phobic attack. A fat couple would have had insults about their weight... Not a fatshaming attack.

This was a random attack. They happened to use some insults about the victims sexuality.

We dont know what happened. If homophobic language was used then its a homophobic attack. Not really sure why there is a huge effort to deny homophobia here. Whats that about?

splinter65 · 30-06-2018 9:55pm

A homophobic attack would imply that these people were attacked specifically because they are a gay couple.
Posters who know the area well are stating that it’s a no go area and anyone walking there at night is highly likely to be similarly attacked.

30-06-2018 9:56pm

I disagree. But it can't be explained any clearer than I, and a few others, have done already so I don't know what else to say to you

harr · 30-06-2018 9:59pm

Why do some people want this attack to be a targeted homophobic attack so bad...so they can be more outraged , would everyone be so outraged if it was heterosexual couple ?
How do I know it wasn’t a targeted attack, simple answer I don’t know...but the odds of a gay couple encountering this group of scum just looking for gay people on this lane way at that hour of the night is slim..
Of course the chance is there that they were followed, but one report mentioned they encountered this group by chance and the couple in question had left a BBQ in a nearby house...

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:01pm

splinter65 wrote: »

A homophobic attack would imply that these people were attacked specifically because they are a gay couple.
Posters who know the area well are stating that it’s a no go area and anyone walking there at night is highly likely to be similarly attacked.

If there was homophobic language used then it is a homophobic attack. Why are you trying to deny that?

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:03pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I disagree. But it can't be explained any clearer than I, and a few others, have done already so I don't know what else to say to you

Perhaps you could try explain and justify why you are trying to deny and downplay homophobia. Because that is what you are trying to do here.

Blacktie. · 30-06-2018 10:04pm

The attackers where not specifically targeting gay people. It makes a difference.

Peatys · 30-06-2018 10:05pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

If there was homophobic language used then it is a homophobic attack.

Would you agree the term 'homophobic attack' insinuates premeditation.

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:06pm

harr wrote: »

Why do some people want this attack to be a targeted homophobic attack so bad...so they can be more outraged , would everyone be so outraged if it was heterosexual couple ?
How do I know it wasn’t a targeted attack, simple answer I don’t know...but the odds of a gay couple encountering this group of scum just looking for gay people on this lane way at that hour of the night is slim..
Of course the chance is there that they were followed, but one report mentioned they encountered this group by chance and the couple in question had left a BBQ in a nearby house...

I dont know what happened. I am simply saying that if homophobic language was used then it is a homophobic attack. Frankly its quite bizarre that people are trying that its not. It really is bizarre to say "they were homophobic but they werent really homophobic cause they didnt plan it". It really is absurd to say that homophobia can only occur if it is planned and premeditated.

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:06pm

Peatys wrote: »

Would you agree the term 'homophobic attack' insinuates premeditation.

No. If there is homophobic language used during the attack then its a homophobic attack. Its bizarre to say "there was homophobia in the attack but it wasnt homophobic because it wasnt planned"

seannash · 30-06-2018 10:08pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Perhaps you could try explain and justify why you are trying to deny and downplay homophobia. Because that is what you are trying to do here.

He's really not, what's equally as bad as downplaying something is overexaggerating something.
If you've ever witnessed or been in a fight you would know that with all the punches and kicks comes a torrent of abuse.
Imagine for a second if this was a straight men but these thugs called him homophobic slurs during it. Is it a hate crime?

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:09pm

Blacktie. wrote: »

The attackers where not specifically targeting gay people. It makes a difference.

No. It doesnt make a difference. Why are you so eager to deny homophobia?

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:10pm

seannash wrote: »

He's really not, what's equally as bad as downplaying something is overexaggerating something.
If you've ever witnessed or been in a fight you would know that with all the punches and kicks comes a torrent of abuse.
Imagine for a second if this was a straight men but these thugs called him homophobic slurs during it. Is it a hate crime?

Yes. Because they used homophobia against him.

Cases like that are often prosecuted as hate crime in other jurisdictions.

harr · 30-06-2018 10:12pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Perhaps you could try explain and justify why you are trying to deny and downplay homophobia. Because that is what you are trying to do here.

And can you explain why you are pushing this attack as homophobia when there is a chance it wasn’t...why are you so adamant it was.
It has already being explained clearly why it might not have been a targeted attack. I have a child with special needs and I can nearly guarantee this group of scum would very easily throw insults at my kid if I encountered them.
These people are looking for easy targets...

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:15pm

harr wrote: »

And can you explain why you are pushing this attack as homophobia when there is a chance it wasn’t...why are you so adamant it was.
It has already being explained clearly why it might not have been a targeted attack. I have a child with special needs and I can nearly guarantee this group of scum would very easily throw insults at my kid if I encountered them.
These people are looking for easy targets...

I'm actually not.

What I have repeatedly said is
A I dont know what happened
B If homophobic language was used then its a homophobic attack

I am not adamant that it was definitely homophobic. I am adamant that if homophobic language was used then it is homophobic.

splinter65 · 30-06-2018 10:19pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

If there was homophobic language used then it is a homophobic attack. Why are you trying to deny that?

No one is denying that there was homophobic language. But it could have been “you ginger bastards” “you fat bastards” “you black bastards”.
I think the point being made is that the fact that the couple are gay doesn’t make the attack any better or worse than if they weren’t gay.
It isn’t more awful because they are gay.
It really isn’t.
It’s terrible that there are these no go areas where it’s not safe to walk.
If you think that it’s more shocking because the victims are gay then I wouldn’t agree with that.

Mam of 4 · 30-06-2018 10:19pm

I'm from the area . Half these young little fcukers who carried out this attack aren't even from the area .
It could have been anyone that night who they battered , as they were more than likely off their heads on pills, weed or coke . They fight amongst themselves first , then go on a ramble about to see if there is anyone vulnerable around .

It isn't a no go area , but I'm not denying that of late it has become a fight zone .

harr · 30-06-2018 10:21pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

I'm actually not.

What I have repeatedly said is
A I dont know what happened
B If homophobic language was used then its a homophobic attack

I am not adamant that it was definitely homophobic. I am adamant that if homophobic language was used then it is homophobic.

Surely for an attack to classify as a homophobic attack the couple in question needed to be targeted because they were gay ? In this case it looks they would have been attacked regardless of there sexuality....

splinter65 · 30-06-2018 10:24pm

Mam of 4 wrote: »

I'm from the area . Half these young little fcukers who carried out this attack aren't even from the area .
It could have been anyone that night who they battered , as they were more than likely off their heads on pills, weed or coke . They fight amongst themselves first , then go on a ramble about to see if there is any vulnerable around .

It isn't a no go area , but I'm not denying that of late it has become a fight zone .

I know that there’s a huge “branch” of a shockingly bad “clan” who have the “mothership” in Limerick, with a further extended family in N. Tipp, over in the Portlaoise area. There’s a lot of tooing and froing between the 3 areas.

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:24pm

harr wrote: »

Surely for an attack to classify as a homophobic attack the couple in question needed to be targeted because they were gay ? In this case it looks they would have been attacked regardless of there sexuality....

No. Why does it have to be? Why is it not a homophobic attack if there was homophobic language used?

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:26pm

splinter65 wrote: »

No one is denying that there was homophobic language. But it could have been “you ginger bastards” “you fat bastards” “you black bastards”.
I think the point being made is that the fact that the couple are gay doesn’t make the attack any better or worse than if they weren’t gay.
It isn’t more awful because they are gay.
It really isn’t.
It’s terrible that there are these no go areas where it’s not safe to walk.
If you think that it’s more shocking because the victims are gay then I wouldn’t agree with that.

It is more awful if they are gay and they are targeted because they are gay.

AllForIt · 30-06-2018 10:27pm

Mam of 4 wrote: »

I'm from the area . Half these young little fcukers who carried out this attack aren't even from the area .
It could have been anyone that night who they battered , as they were more than likely off their heads on pills, weed or coke . They fight amongst themselves first , then go on a ramble about to see if there is any vulnerable around .

It isn't a no go area , but I'm not denying that of late it has become a fight zone .

That's shocking really when you think about it.

The one thing I wouldn't say though is that 'it was the weed' that was in some way the root cause of what they did. Not that I think you are saying that MO4.

It blows my crank when sentences are handed down for such brutal crimes that their socio-economic background is taken into account. That policy is soo sooo wrong and it is why those same apes feel they can do whatever they like.

seannash · 30-06-2018 10:31pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Yes. Because they used homophobia against him.

Cases like that are often prosecuted as hate crime in other jurisdictions.

Interesting. Can you link me to a case.
If that's the case I would whole heartedly disagree with the conviction in such a case.

dr.fuzzenstein · 30-06-2018 10:35pm

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

If there was homophobic language used then it is a homophobic attack. Why are you trying to deny that?

Yes, it was a homophobic attack. You have successfully identified a hallmark and have put the appropriate label on this attack and filed it into a box.
Next time the same attackers might come across black people and attack them.
Then you would have to say "woa, hold on a minute, they're not homophobes, they're racists!"
So, taken them out of their box, because this is something totally new and unconnected to the homophobic attack.
Before you would try to understand why they are homophobes, but now you would stop everything and try therapy and talking as to why they're suddenly racists instead of homophobes.
You would run around, scratching your head, looking for labels and boxes to put them in, when it would never occur to you that these people are simply violent scrotes and arseholes.

So while there is no doubting that these people are racists and homophobes, simply sticking a label on them and sticking them in a box going "well that was easy!" is being incredibly naive and simplistic.
You have to look deeper than simply labeling people. Because just slapping a label on someone is as bad as a racist labeling black people because of their color. It's lazy and idiotic.

Call Me Jimmy · 30-06-2018 10:38pm

You've been told and you know that the type of scumbags who attack strangers are not going to be 'progressive' in their speech while doing it. You know already that these are unthinking cretins and they most likely will not have positive views about gays, blacks, asians, even people from a bus stop away. You've been told by a local that there is a lot of trouble in the area, and you just need to imply that they're out their searching for gays to bash.

Blacktie. · 30-06-2018 10:47pm

Joeytheparrot wrote:

It is more awful if they are gay and they are targeted because they are gay.

This is exactly the point we are trying to make here. It's pretty likely they weren't targeted because they where gay. They just happened to be gay in this incident.

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:54pm

seannash wrote: »

Interesting. Can you link me to a case.
If that's the case I would whole heartedly disagree with the conviction in such a case.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2748062/Savage-homophobic-attack-straight-man-left-broken-arm-turned-woman-s-advances-street.html

https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/straight-man-left-metal-plates-face-life-after-anti-gay-attack110614/

I cant find any other cases off hand but I know there have been. It also works that way in Irish equality legislation. A straight person can also be the victim of homophobic discrimination.

30-06-2018 10:56pm

Joeytheparrot wrote:

I cant find any other cases off hand but I know there have been. It also works that way in Irish equality legislation. A straight person can also be the victim of homophobic discrimination.

..... So if I called an anorexic a fat ****er, am I fat shaming?

Mam of 4 · 30-06-2018 10:56pm

AllForIt wrote: »

That's shocking really when you think about it.

The one thing I wouldn't say though is that 'it was the weed' that was in some way the root cause of what they did. Not that I think you are saying that MO4.

It blows my crank when sentences are handed down for such brutal crimes that their socio-economic background is taken into account. That policy is soo sooo wrong and it is why those same apes feel they can do whatever they like.

The sad reality of it is that they are doing what they like and nothing is being done about it tbh .

I just hope the decent people in the area support and help the innocent victim and his partner in all of this

Annasopra · 30-06-2018 10:57pm

Call Me Jimmy wrote: »

You've been told and you know that the type of scumbags who attack strangers are not going to be 'progressive' in their speech while doing it. You know already that these are unthinking cretins and they most likely will not have positive views about gays, blacks, asians, even people from a bus stop away. You've been told by a local that there is a lot of trouble in the area, and you just need to imply that they're out their searching for gays to bash.

I'm not implying that actually. There's no need to be patronising. I am saying that if homophobic language is used then its a homophobic attack. Everyone who has disagreed with me hasn't exactly justified their position other than "it wasnt targeted" and "scumbags be scumbaggin"

Disgusting homophobic attack in Portlaoise

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