A rally will be held in Phoenix Park, Co Dublin, this afternoon in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community following an alleged homophobic incident last week. 

Protestors will meet at the Concrete Shelter at 2pm today to “send a clear message of solidarity”. 

The rally is in response to an incident that took place last Monday when three gay men were reportedly ‘hunted’ by a group of six other men with knives. 

The group escaped but was later told there was no CCTV and there was no ability to identify the crowd. 

DJ Bill Harris shared the event on social media, calling on people to “show that the queer community will not be intimidated by hate”. 

“The Pride flags that fly above the river Liffey, wrap shop fronts, hang in your workplace and across the country mean little while queer people continue to face ongoing hate and violence,” they said. 

“They mean less still if our community meets incidents like this with silence during Pride Month.” 

Attack in Phoenix Park

Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward spoke to one of the men involved in the incident – who said more needs to be done to protect people. 

"They got away from them but God knows what would have happened if they hadn't,” he said. 

"What on Earth is going on that this is still happening in Ireland in 2024? When every right-thinking member of society recognises the normality of sexual relationships between people of the same gender. 

"What is going on that we are not tackling this? What is going on that we don't have Gardaí in the park? 

"When they went to the Guards about it they were told there wasn't CCTV or they couldn't identify the car." 

Gardaí have said they are aware of an alleged incident in the Phoenix Park on Monday night. 

They said officers responded at 11.35pm but following a lengthy patrol of the area "no person made any formal report to An Garda Síochána." 

Gardaí have also made contact with LGBTQ advocacy groups following the reported incident.