Man beaten by homophobic thugs on bus after standing up when they called him 'freak'

A man who stood up to homophobic thugs on the bus was left with shocking injuries when he was headbutted in the face.

Mark Sheehan, 26, was travelling home with friends in Dublin when a group of young men sitting behind them started insulting them with vile slurs.

When he stood up to them they kicked his headphones from his hand, sending them flying across the bus.

Things escalated as he tried to leave the top deck when one of the thugs ran up and headbutted him, breaking his nose and leaving him traumatised, the Irish Mirror reported.

Mr Sheehan said: “I am completely shook up by this. I spent the following six hours in the hospital.

Mark Sheehan and his pals were targeted by a group of men on the top deck of a bus (internet unknown)

“A group of young men sat behind me and proceeded to mock and jeer at my friends and I for the duration of the journey out of town.

“I used my earphones to drown them out, and when taking them off to place back in the case I heard even more insults - queer, emo freak and f**got to name a few.

“I turned around and said to act their age. This prompted one of the young men…to kick the earphones from my hand and across the bus.

“I immediately tried finding them as we were at our stop, and was being laughed at by what felt like the whole bus while crawling to find them.”

Mr Sheehan says he was left traumatised by the experience, which may have broken his nose (internet unknown)

“At this point I was leaving the upper floor and the person who had kicked me ran up and headbutted me.

“I looked down and saw blood covering my shoes, I don’t understand why they singled us out and antagonised us so much.

“I have lost my property and potentially have a broken nose. I am to go for a scan after the swelling subsides.”

Sinn Fein justice spokesman Martin Kenny said the attack highlighted the need for a transport policing system.

He was left bloodied and bruised in the attack (internet unknown)

He said: “The fact we once again woke up this morning to learn of yet another cowardly homophobic attack in our capital city is of deep concern, and will once again cause great distress and worry among our LGBTQ community who increasingly feel that their safety is under threat.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe on our streets, in their homes, and going about their daily business. I wish to extend my solidarity with the victim of this cowardly act of violence. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope that there is sufficient CCTV footage to bring the perpetrator to justice.

“The fact that this attack happened on a Dublin Bus once again underlines the need to establish a transport policing system.”

A Garda spokesman confirmed an investigation was underway into the incident.

He said: “Gardai are investigating all the circumstances of an assault on a man in his 20s that occurred on the Firhouse Road at approximately 4am on Sunday, 14th August 2022.

“The injured party was taken to Tallaght University Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

“No arrests have been made at this time.

“Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses or for anyone with any information in relation to this assault to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 01 666 6000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”