Young People Subjected To Homophobic Abuse On Bus Home From Dublin Pride

Young people returning home from the Pride celebrations in Dublin were subjected to horrific homophobic abuse, the Irish Independent are reporting. 

The alleged incident occurred on a privately-operated coach service running from Dublin to Drogheda on Saturday evening. A passenger told the publication:

"Two lads came to my attention earlier as there was quite a large queue for the bus, they barged passed people quite aggressively to get on. The two of them attacked some other people down near the back of the bus.   

"People were shouting at the driver to stop the bus which he then did. He went down the bus to attempt to break up the fight but no effect. He came back up to the bus and called the Gardaí and opened the bus doors so that those around the fight could get off if they so wished."

The bus was stopped on Gardiner Street in Dublin City at the time. The passenger went on to say:

"The two aggressive lads involved in the fight then walked up the bus and started shouting homophobic slurs abuse at people clearly coming back from Pride", the witness said.

"They were calling young teenagers f**king f****ts and queers and other really nasty things. Some of the young people on the bus were left in tears. They were directing it at people with flags or their faces painted.

"I helped a guy of about 16 or 17 wipe off the rainbow flags he had painted on his face so they wouldn't target him"

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