Declan Flynn

RTÉ broadcast a documentary, The Case I Can’t Forget: The Killing of Declan Flynn, 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 Tonie Walsh and David Norris, and retired Detective Inspector Edwin Handcock, who led the investigation.

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 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.

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 the victim that she had the choice of getting a kick in the stomach or being raped.

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 Central Criminal Court 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 manslaughter and their sentencing was put back until the conclusion of the murder trial against the 14-year-old.

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. 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 "queer bashing" 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.

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 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.

Armstrong was back before court on Friday 11 March 1983 where he was convicted in Dublin District Court of daubing the words "Up the IRA" 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.

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 sentences handed down by the courts in these cases. The demonstrators marched from Liberty Hall 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 Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, the Union of Students in Ireland, the Socialist Workers' Movement, the anarchist Workers Solidarity Movement, members of the Drumcondra branch of Sinn Féin along with many other NGOs.

Declan Flynn (1951 or 1952 – 9 September 1982) was an Irish gay man attacked and killed in Fairview Park in Dublin. His murder is seen as the catalyst for the LGBTQ Pride movement in Ireland. His death came about as a result of a series of beatings meted out to gay men in Dublin who used Fairview Park as a meeting place at the time.

A series of homophobic beatings was carried out in Fairview Park during the summer of 1982. Fairview Park was a popular gay cruising area at that time. On the night of 9 September 1982, Flynn had gone with a friend to Belton's Pub in Donnycarney, 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. Gardaí 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 warm but there was no sign of life or a pulse. He was brought to Blanchardstown Hospital, 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.

On Sunday, 12 September 1982, a 14-year-old juvenile was charged with Flynn's murder at a special sitting of Dublin District Court at the Bridewell. He was remanded in custody.