Group to combat homophobic attacks

GARDAÍ have set up a working group with gay representatives to tackle a rise in homophobic attacks.

Officers have appointed a number of extra liaison officers in Dublin city centre and plan to assign liaison officers across the country.

A special meeting of senior gardaí and representatives of the gay community took place in Dublin on Monday night - the first such meeting in 10 years.

It was attended by Superintendent Ray Barry of Store Street Station and Superintendent John Twomey of Pearse Street Station.

“The presence of senior officers reflects how serious the gardaí are taking this matter,” said Inspector Finbarr Murphy, who runs the Garda Gay Liaison Scheme, and who also attended.

He is one of 16 gay liaison officers located in different parts of the country.

He said two more gay liaison officers had been appointed in city centre stations and additional patrols had been set up in the George’s Street/Dame Street/Christchurch areas of the city.

Insp Murphy said a working group of gardaí and members of the gay community was set up to identify what needed to be done to tackle the attacks.

Gay groups said 11 people have been attacked outside the George, a gay bar, on George’s Street in the last month.

Insp Murphy said gardaí launched an awareness campaign during the summer called Be Proud, Be Safe, encouraging gay people who had been assaulted to come forward.