Ireland: Gay couple kicked out of SPAR store by security guard for kissing
A gay couple have claimed that they were called “faggots” and kicked out of a SPAR store in Dublin after sharing a kiss there.
Robbie Lawlor and Emmett Daly said they had been at a gay bar on Sunday night and left at 3.30 am to buy food. After entering the SPAR on Dame Street they kissed, and were spotted by a security guard.
Mr Lawlor wrote on Facebook: “The security guard then came over to us and told us to ‘take it back into the George [gay bar] you faggots.’
“Emmett then asked if we were a straight couple would u asked us to leave and go back to Coppers?”, referring to a local non-gay club.
Mr Lawlor tried to pull his partner from the store, but when the security guard followed them and said “Get out of the shop, you faggots,” Mr Daly pushed the guard away.
Two onlooking men then pinned Mr Daly to the ground and “practically strangled him”, said Mr Lawlor.
“He now has cuts all over his face and is in some amount of pain,” he said.
SPAR released a statement saying they were aware that an incident had been reported: “SPAR Ireland prides itself on respect for all regardless of gender, nationality, colour, creed, or sexual orientation and abhors any action that contravenes that.
“We are currently working with the independent store owner, the gardai (police) and the private security company to establish the facts of the alleged incident.”
