A man who was hospitalised with a broken ankle and horrific facial injuries following a sickening homophobic attack on him says it shows how Ireland still has a way to go when it comes to equality.
Rugby player Evan Somers (23) was brutally assaulted when he and his cousin were walking on Dublin’s Dame Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Emerald Warriors Rugby player was left with a broken ankle and a fractured eye socket after a male ran after him before assaulting him at around 3.45am.
Gay Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has expressed his shock and pledged to put pressure on the Justice Minister to prioritise hate crime laws and increase Garda street presence.
Evan, from Lucan in west Dublin, was taken to St James’s Hospital where he underwent surgery on his ankle on Monday.
Speaking from his hospital bed, he said: “We began walking down Dame Street looking for a taxi. The man who assaulted me ran after us and started to harass us, even though we had never spoken to him.
“I remember him calling me a f***t as he was about to punch me and I had no time to react. I don’t remember much after that as I got knocked out.
“Next thing I remember is sitting on the path with my leg outstretched, unable to move my foot.”
Evan said the culprit had already fled by the time gardai and an ambulance arrived.
“I have a fractured eye socket, two fractured bones in my ankle and a dislocated ankle with some other small cuts and bruises,” he added.
Evan believes that there’s still a long way to go in terms of equality for LGBTQ+ people.
“Even though you hear of stories like this, when it happens to you or even someone you know, it’s just a shocking reminder that we have a long way to go in terms of equality for LGBTQ+ people,” Evan said in a tweet about the incident, that has gone viral.
“It’s 2022, it shouldn’t need to be said that it’s not OK to abuse people physically or verbally just because they’re different.”
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar retweeted Evan’s tweet and added: “Shocked and appalled that an assault of this nature in our capital city. Will discuss with Helen McEntee regarding the Garda presence on our streets and new hate crime laws.”
Meanwhile, Minister McEntee said she will discuss street policing with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and how she can support more gardai on the streets.
On a visit to Limerick city on Monday, she added: “I am utterly appalled by what happened.
“Whoever is responsible we need to make sure the gardai are allowed to carry out their work, and hopefully somebody will be (apprehended).
“I want to increase Garda numbers full-stop, and the fact that we have funding for 800 Garda recruits this year, that’s a start, and however the Garda Commissioner deploys them is obviously a matter for the Commissioner.”
Emerald Warriors, Ireland’s first LGBT+ inclusive rugby team also tweeted of their shock.
“We are devastated and shocked following the attack on our fellow team mate/Warrior,” they said. “This is Ireland 2022. “As many of our stakeholders tell us, homophobic attacks and slurs are increasing.”
Irish Rugby also condemned the assault tweeting: “We stand shoulder to shoulder with Evan. This violence and homophobia has no place in our society.”
And in a post on Twitter, singer Boy George said: “What did your freedom to be who you are stir in this vile creature.
“I’m sorry for what you have been through and hope they catch him. There are satellites that see everything.”
READ MORE: Leo Varadkar to examine options amid concern over apparent rise in abuse towards LGBTQ+ community
READ MORE: Man rushed to hospital as gardai probe early morning stabbing in Dublin
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