155:, a short distance from his home. When he left the pub around 11:45 that night, he spoke for a while with his friend and then walked home along Collins' Avenue to Swords Road, before making his way through Fairview Park. Along the way Flynn called to the Fairview Grill where he met with a male friend who gave him a peck on his cheek as they were parting. His body was found badly beaten about the head in Fairview Park on the morning of 10 September 1982 and was taken to Blanchardstown Hospital. Initial reports were that he had died as a result of head injuries.
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tree. One of the gang went and sat alone on a bench. His statement went on to say that a man (Declan Flynn) approached one of the gang on the bench. Following contact between the men, Flynn fled running away and he heard someone shout "Get him." One of the other accused then tripped the man. The 14-year-old said that he had a skinny branch as a weapon and the others had sticks. His statement said that he saw some of the gang hit the man who was lying on the ground with the sticks.
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a major part of Dublin. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and naming
Fairview footbridge after him will send a strong message that there is no place for racism and homophobia in our community." At a meeting of the North Central Area Committee Council meeting on the 16 February 2015, a second proposal was put forward in similar terms to rename the bridge by Councillor Seán Haughey. Clarification was sought on the previous proposal.
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statement which was read to court, he told Gardaí: "A few of us had been queer-bashing for about six weeks before and battered about 20 steamers. We used to grab them. If they hit back we gave it to them." He indicated that he had not meant to kill Flynn and had dialed 999 for an ambulance when he saw blood coming from his mouth. At trial, the court heard that Flynn had inhaled from blood bleeding from his mouth and nose and had died from
319:. In keeping with normal Defence Forces procedures, an army officer monitored the trial and reported to their commanding officer. The then-General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, General James Connolly, decided, after a 30-day wait for the lodge of an appeal that under Defence Force Regulations, that as a result of their convictions for manslaughter that they should be discharged from the Defence Forces.
135:, a resource centre for the gay community, but was spotted there infrequently. He was on the centre's social committee and volunteered at its café. Flynn's family, who lived near the park on the Swords Road, did not know that he was gay. Nor did they know he frequented places where other young gay men went to find sexual partners. Indeed, Declan Flynn's father, Christopher Flynn, said his son was not gay.
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164:, being the only hospital on call on the north side of the city. The pathologist said that it would have made no difference if Flynn had been brought to another hospital. He went on to say that if the blood which had built up in Flynn's respiratory system had been removed quickly he might have lived, but this would have had to be done on the spot.
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The sentencing gave rise to a debate in the Dáil on 10 March 1983 during which calls were made for uniformity of sentencing. It was pointed out that one of the young people who was sentenced to a 12 months suspended sentence was sentenced previously to a two-year suspended sentence for the theft of a
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At sentencing, all five walked free as they were given suspended sentences with Mr. Justice Seán Gannon telling them that they would have to serve their sentences if they got into trouble again. The judge said that he must demonstrate the abhorrence of the community by imposing sentences, but that he
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on the night of the 9 September and left at midnight cycling down
Malahide Road. Whilst cycling through Fairview Park he saw a gang and he went over to see them. One of the gang said to him: "Hide behind a tree. We are going to bash a queer". After hiding his bike, he joined the gang to hide behind a
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In 2013, independent councillor Damian O'Farrell submitted a proposal that the revamped
Fairview Park footbridge be named after the late Declan Flynn. Councillor O'Farrell said it would be a fitting tribute, adding: "Declan Flynn was a gay man when homosexuality was a crime. The gay community is now
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Counsel for the 14-year-old described the case as one of the saddest and most tragic cases to come before any court. He said that the only evidence against the 14-year-old was his statement and that he said that he had only struck Flynn "on the arse" and could not have anything to do with his death.
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On 1 December 1987, Armstrong was sentenced to 10 years in prison when he admitted to raping a woman who was 7 months pregnant after giving her young children sweets to keep them quiet. Armstrong and Paul Davis broke into the victim's flat and raped her while her husband was at work. Armstrong told
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initially worked on the theory that he died after being robbed as he carried no identification nor money. At the inquest, the coroner heard that North Strand Depot Fire
Station received a call at 1:45 am on 10 September to go to Fairview Park. They arrived at 1:48 am and found Flynn, his body still
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Armstrong and Maher gave statements to the Gardaí admitting their part in the killing. They had returned to the park after leaving their girlfriends at home and were joined by
Kavanagh and Donovan. Armstrong stated that: "We were part of the team to get rid of queers from Fairview Park." In his
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In response to
Justice Gannon's verdict, the largest gay rights demonstration ever seen on the island of Ireland took place on Saturday 19 March 1983. Approximately 400 men, women, and children marched in protest against street violence against homosexuals, lesbians, and women and the unjust
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reported that youngsters at a block of flats were in an almost celebratory mood following the handing down of the suspended sentences. One local woman told its reporter that there had been cheering when the news of the suspended sentences reached the neighbourhood.
243:" whatever that was. Mr Justice Seán Gannon charged the jury to find the accused not guilty on the murder count. Following a deliberation of 3.5 hours, the jury returned its verdict of guilty of manslaughter. Sentencing was adjourned to 8 March 1983.
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The decision not to jail the killers drew strong statements of surprise and concern from all parties. Calls were made for the
Minister for Justice to inquire into all aspects of the case and present a full report to the
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said he was very concerned at the outcome of the case because it would appear to give a free hand to vigilante gangs out to intimidate gays saying: "It could be interpreted as a licence to kill".
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car. This was stated to clearly indicate the inconsistency in sentencing policy which is very hard to justify. There were demands in the Dáil for the dismissal of Mr
Justice Seán Gannon.
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to
Fairview Park. The march was organised by the Dublin Gay Collective with support from the National Gay Federation, the Anti-Amendment Campaign, Women's Right to Choose Campaign, the
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The 14-year-old gave a statement to Gardaí concerning the killing. In the statement which was opened in Court at the murder trial, he said that he had gone to see a friend in
381:, on 5 September 2022, to mark the 40th anniversary of Flynn's murder. The documentary featured interviews with his siblings, members of the gay community including
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As Flynn lay dying, £4 from his pocket and his watch were stolen. Applications were made for separate murder trials for each of the five which was turned down by the
308:" on an advertising board in Fairview. He was ordered to pay the £20 cost of replacement to the owners of the board, and was given one month to pay a fine of £20.
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One thing that has come to my mind is that there is no element of correction that is required. All of you come from good homes and experienced care and affection
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as a matter of urgency. The sentence was contrasted with a case where a man who stole a purse and cash worth £20.36 was imprisoned for 12 months.
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When Flynn's father was asked to comment on the outcome of the case he said: "I had expected that justice would be done and be seen to be done."
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on 22 February 1983. The murder trial of the 14-year-old commenced on 1 March 1983. Maher, Armstrong, Kavanagh and
Donovan pleaded guilty to
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Counsel for the accused said no aspersions were being cast on the character of Flynn and that there was no attempt to justify or excuse "
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Armstrong was back before court on Friday 11 March 1983 where he was convicted in Dublin District Court of daubing the words "Up the
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passed, the bridge was decorated in his memory, with flowers and tributes being left at the park bench where the attack occurred.
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On Sunday, 12 September 1982, a 14-year-old juvenile was charged with Flynn's murder at a special sitting of
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area at that time. On the night of 9 September 1982, Flynn had gone with a friend to Belton's Pub in
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and their sentencing was put back until the conclusion of the murder trial against the 14-year-old.
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131:, though not very well. Flynn had helped out on occasion at the Hirschfeld Centre in the nascent
511:"PEOPLE ARE LEAVING 'YES' BADGES AT THE BENCH IN DUBLIN WHERE DECLAN FLYNN WAS MURDERED IN 1982"
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was carried out in Fairview Park during the summer of 1982. Fairview Park was a popular gay
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the victim that she had the choice of getting a kick in the stomach or being raped.
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sentences handed down by the courts in these cases. The demonstrators marched from
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87:(22 July 1951 – 9 September 1982) was an Irish gay man attacked and killed in
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didn't think it necessary that they be served immediately by detention.
107:. His death came about as a result of a series of beatings meted out to
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859:"Dublin: The Fairview Park Murders and the Declan Flynn murder case"
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Armstrong and Maher were, at the time of the killing, Airmen in the
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warm but there was no sign of life or a pulse. He was brought to
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in Dublin who used Fairview Park as a meeting place at the time.
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In suspending the sentences of all, Mr Justice Gannon said:
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a 14-year-old boy who could not be named for legal reasons.
484:"Attitudes may have changed but gay-bashing still happens"
938:"Deputies call for he removal of judge in Fairview case"
595:"The Case I Can't Forget: The Killing of Declan Flynn"
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The Case I Can't Forget: The Killing of Declan Flynn
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The Case I Can’t Forget: The Killing of Declan Flynn
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Anthony (Tony) Maher (aged 19) of Poplar Row Flats,
194:Robert Alan Armstrong (aged 18) of Plunkett Drive,
201:Patrick Kavanagh (aged 18) of St Brigid's Avenue,
183:The beatings were carried out by a gang of 5 men:
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841:"Manslaughter sentence suspended on five youths"
1086:"New Declan Flynn documentary to screen on RTÉ"
800:"Murder trial told boy said he would not "rat""
1048:"Minutes of Meeting held on 16 February 2015"
1030:"Footbridge name plan for victim of gay hate"
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544:"Boy describes gang's attack on man in park"
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1011:"Man who raped woman in flat gets 10 years"
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623:"FF demands inquiry into park killing case"
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123:worker in Dublin who lived on Swords Road,
1166:People murdered in the Republic of Ireland
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648:"Four admit killing man in Dublin park"
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1156:Violence against LGBT people in Europe
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446:. Dublin: National LGBT Federation Ltd
259:This could never be regarded as murder
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331:, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, the
1028:O'Connor, Niall (7 February 2013).
993:"Street violence protest in Dublin"
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818:"Boy found guilty of manslaughter"
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16:Murdered Irish gay man (1951–1982)
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1181:Murder victims from Dublin (city)
920:"Criminal Case Sentences: Motion"
764:"Separate trials request refused"
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329:Irish Council for Civil Liberties
1161:Victims of anti-LGBT hate crimes
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902:"Fairview strollers unprotected"
900:Yates, Padraig (10 March 1983).
886:Did Anyone Notice Us? (RTE 2003)
739:"Reactionary murders in Ireland"
702:"Inquest gives verdict on Flynn"
621:Clingan, Willy (10 March 1983).
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99:is seen as the catalyst for the
1084:Tiernan, Han (30 August 2022).
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991:Doherty, Judy (21 March 1983).
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974:"Youths made to quit Air Corps"
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956:"Fairview youth in court again"
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889:. 2003. Event occurs at 32:00.
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509:Heneghan, Conor (23 May 2015).
1191:20th-century Irish LGBT people
1186:Violence against men in Europe
861:. 28 June 2014. Archived from
782:"5 youths charged with murder"
684:"Gardaí identify murdered man"
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180:. He was remanded in custody.
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666:"Body found in Fairview Park"
571:. 8 June 2008. Archived from
482:Meagher, John (2 June 2013).
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399:Violence against LGBT people
369:Marriage Equality referendum
351:along with many other NGOs.
333:Union of Students in Ireland
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720:"Juvenile on murder charge"
438:Philpott, Ger (July 2018).
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341:Workers Solidarity Movement
127:. Flynn was known to young
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464:: CS1 maint: url-status (
337:Socialist Workers Movement
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208:Colm Donovan (aged 17) of
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1151:Violence against gay men
168:Murder charges and trial
597:. RTÉ. 5 September 2022
210:Buckingham Street Lower
162:Blanchardstown Hospital
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221:Central Criminal Court
1196:Hate crimes in Europe
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174:Dublin District Court
1176:1982 in LGBT history
1088:. Gay Community News
726:. 13 September 1982.
690:. 11 September 1982.
672:. 10 September 2015.
367:On the day that the
1054:. 11 November 2021.
1052:Dublin City Council
737:Sam (3 June 2013).
575:on 16 February 2015
145:homophobic beatings
1065:O'Connor, Sinead.
1017:. 1 December 1987.
924:www.oireachtas.ie
865:on 2 January 2015
488:Irish Independent
420:- RTÉ documentary
343:, members of the
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654:. 2 March 1983.
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404:Charles Self
387:David Norris
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196:Finglas West
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143:A series of
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103:movement in
85:Declan Flynn
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64:(1982-09-09)
50:22 July 1951
25:Declan Flynn
18:
1141:1982 deaths
1136:1951 births
1071:The Journal
383:Tonie Walsh
232:Donnycarney
153:Donnycarney
101:LGBTQ Pride
75:Nationality
1130:Categories
1067:"Liveblog"
1034:The Herald
425:References
347:branch of
345:Drumcondra
189:Ballybough
133:Temple Bar
121:Aer Rianta
46:1951-07-22
349:Sinn Féin
178:Bridewell
519:. Dublin
490:. Dublin
450:28 April
440:"Declan"
393:See also
359:Memorial
249:asphyxia
149:cruising
315:of the
272:Fallout
176:at the
139:Killing
109:gay men
105:Ireland
1106:Portal
869:25 May
748:24 May
579:24 May
523:24 May
516:JOE.ie
494:24 May
335:, the
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