Killed in the Park
In Dublin in 1982, a brutal homophobic killing shocked the nation. Forty years later, a lead detective describes the investigation that brought the killers to justice.
In Dublin in 1982, it was still illegal to be gay. But when Declan Flynn was brutally killed in a homophobic attack at a local park, the public were outraged.
Communities united in support of the gay community, beginning a decades-long process of social change. Over 40 years later, Declan’s death is considered the catalyst of Ireland’s Pride movement.
Retired detective inspector Edwin Handcock has never forgotten the case. He recalls every detail of the investigation, including the discovery of the sticks used to beat Declan to death. His inquiry led to the arrest of four men and a child. But their eventual prosecution led to more anger and controversy when each was convicted of manslaughter and given only non-custodial sentences.
The public took to the streets in protest, with a now famous march across the city to the site where Declan died.
His siblings, Paul, Gabrielle and Lorraine, now speak emotionally on camera for the very first time about their brother’s senseless killing. Local activists and national politicians also share the impact of the attack on their own lives as members of the gay community, and on Irish society as a whole.
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