Teen boy arrested over ‘homophobic’ assault that saw gay couple brutally beaten and stabbed
Gearóid Laighléis (L) and Anthony Nolan were assaulted by a gang in Ireland. (Facebook)
Irish police arrested a teenage boy in connection to a ‘homophobic attack’ that took place last week against a gay couple.
A gang assaulted the gay couple – brutally beating one and stabbing the other – in an incident that rippled through the County Kildare community.
One half of the couple posted on Facebook to share the story of the attack, which took place at Newbridge train station on the evening of January 31.
Gardaí officials said the arrest of the teen was the second suspect interviewed by police, and he will be detained for 24 hours, gcn reported.
Who was arrested?
The teen was detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, which permits police to hold him for the day after being arrested on suspicion of assault causing harm.
He was the second suspect questioned by investigators, alongside, “a man in his late teens was also previously questioned in connection with this assault and an investigation file is being prepared for direction,” a Gardaí spokesperson said.
Law enforcement confirmed they are treating the incident as a hate crime,
“An Garda Síochána has a significant focus on enhancing the identification, reporting, investigation and prosecution of hate crimes as published in the Garda Diversity and Integration Strategy 2019-2021.”
What happenedin the ‘homophobic’ attack?
One half of the couple Gearóid Laighléis wrote: “Myself and the person I’m seeing decided to go to Newbridge today for a change, we had a great day until we went back to Newbridge train station to get the train back to his place.
“Unfortunately we didn’t get to his house as we were rushed to Tallagh hospital.”
He said that during the “homophobic attack” by three people he was repeatedly kicked in the face until he was on the ground, and that his partner Anthony was stabbed four times and left bleeding. He added that one of the attackers videotaped the incident.
Laighléis continued: “Never in my life did I think I would be kneeling next to somebody I’m with, holding their stab wounds to stop the bleeding to keep him alive.
“I’d never wish what I witnessed tonight on my worst enemy.”
Addressing their attackers directly, he said: “You are scum of the Earth to repeatedly stab an innocent fella for only living the life we deserve to live.”
