Gogglebox Ireland viewers react as series regular…

Gogglebox Ireland viewers react as series regular opens up on homophobic abuse she suffered

Gogglebox Ireland viewers were quick to react on Wednesday evening after a series regular spoke up about homophobic abuse she'd suffered in the past.

If you've never seen it, Gogglebox Ireland on Virgin Media sees a few families from around the country shown some of the week's top telly to get their reaction to it.

Both the UK and Irish editions have won multiple awards over the span of the series.

One of the shows that the families sat down for this week was RTÉ's harrowing The Case I Can't Forget: The Murder of Declan Flynn .

For anyone who wasn't around at the time, Declan Flynn was a gay man attacked and killed in Fairview Park in Dublin on September 9, 1982.

He was beaten with sticks by five men, all under the age of 20, including a 14-year-old, who openly admitted in police interviews that they had been "queer-bashing for about six weeks before and battered about 20 steamers."

Four of the men were charged with manslaughter, with the 14-year-old charged with murder.

All of them were given suspended sentences, leading to outrage - with many seeing the trial result as a catalyst for the LGBT movement in Ireland.

Gogglebox regulars John and Dave were left in tears, while the Grufferty family were informed that there is still homophobia in Ireland, as told to them by their daughter Danielle.

Having already whispered that it was "sickening", her father Des asked whether she had gotten any abuse from people.

"I have, twice" she replied.

"Me and my girlfriend were walking around Carlow and Newbridge and it was a group of young lads, two separate occasions, screaming 'dirty lesbians' and this that or the other, oh 'heshes' and all this.

Gogglebox Family, Danielle, Laura and Des Grufferty pictured this morning at the Alex Hotel, Dublin for the launch of the Virgin Media Television Spring 2019 TV schedule (Collins Agency, Dublin)

"You can't do anything, you just have to put your head down and ignore it."

Viewers spotted the interaction and flocked to social media to support the teen.

One wrote: "Did Des’s daughter just come out on Gogglebox?! one person asked, leading to a 'yes sir' from Des himself.

While another added: "Legend Danielle, legend" and a third chipped in with "Fair play to you Danielle"

Another wrote: "I always thought the Gruffertys were the cats pyjamas but love them even more now - Danielle is a super star."

One person made a good point by noting: "How sad, that in this day and age a young lady sitting on the couch chatting to her father can recount stories of abuse and homophobic behaviour in an Irish town. What a strong and wonderful lady you have there @alexdesgruff13 and she's lucky to have you and Laura!