Dublin Pride is hosting a memorial meeting for Declan Flynn in Fairview Park on Saturday, September 10, 40 years after his death.
Declan was the victim of a homophobic attack in the same park in the early hours of September 10, 1982. A gang of five teenagers were responsible for the attack.
The same group had carried out other homophobic attacks during the summer of 1982. Declan's murder is often regarded as a catalyst for the Irish gay rights movement.
Read more: Half of all hate crimes in Ireland last year took place in Dublin
Announcing plans for a gathering in Fairview Park in remembrance of Declan, who was 30 years old when he died, Dublin Pride invited people to join them on the day.
They wrote: "Declan was not the only gay man to be murdered in Ireland that year, and the events that followed led to the first large scale LGBTQ+ march in Dublin the following year and the first Dublin Pride Parade.
"On Saturday, September 10th, we invite you to join us in Fairview Park as we remember Declan and all the victims of homophobic and transphobic violence. Following some speeches and a wreath laying, we also invite you to join us as we walk back into town, retracing the steps of our original march.
"2022 has been one of the most dangerous years for LGBTQ+ people in Ireland in 40 years and we will be calling on the government to make good on its promises to introduce Hate Crime legislation."
The meeting takes place at 12.30pm on Saturday, September 10 in Fairview Park in Dublin 3. Mr Justice Sean Gannon sentenced the youths responsible to between one and five years on guilty pleas to manslaughter in March 1983. The sentences were suspended.
A film about the murder of Declan Flynn is currently in the works.
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