Drogheda Vigil For Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee

Anthony McIntyre ✒ This evening In Drogheda's West Street residents of the town turned out for a vigil in honour of the two men murdered earlier this week in Sligo.

It was a scene replicated across the country as people of various hues gathered in grim determination to stand firm against the hate reaper stalking the streets.

It has been strongly suggested that both men were prey for a predatory hate killer, each viciously slain for being gay. I went in solidarity after my daughter had contacted me from Lyon to say the event was taking place. While standing talking to a local politician my teenage son and his friend turned up. I don't think they went to it specifically but it was good that they did and observed the minute's silence for both murdered men.

Much less joyous than seeing my son and his friend turn up was not seeing the town photographer there. Unfortunately, Jimmy Weldon died yesterday morning in the local Lourdes Hospital, whose name he had campaigned to prevent being dropped. Whether he was a Catholic traditionalist or simply someone who felt that for the Lourdes to no longer be the Lourdes, the town would lose something of its discursive character and cultural significance, I don't know. Forty years of pounding the streets in all types of weather in search of that moment in time to be captured forever, brought to Jimmy a town celebrity status. Whatever snaps were taken this evening, few will attain the level of quality we have come to associate with Jimmy Weldon.

If there was a wedding, 21st, communion, first day of school; it just wasn’t the same without Jimmy capturing those precious moments forever.

If, as seems certain, the Sligo murders were hate crimes, then it marks an upturn in violence against our fellow citizens within Ireland's gay community. There have been other reports of attacks on gay people although fortunately nothing as serious as what took place in Sligo.

A gay activist spoke at tonight's rally and told his listeners that it is disheartening to see young people turn up at his office on a daily basis frightened because of the hostility their sexuality can attract, like a poultice drawing bilious hatred. Also speaking were local TDs Ged Nash and Imelda Munster, both of whom reaffirmed their solidarity with our fellow citizens under attack.

What the exact thinking behind the killings was, we will most likely find out in time. Often this type of hatred has a religious dimension to it. Hate Theology labels gay people sinners and abominations, while rejoicing in the threat to them that they will spend an eternity burning in Hell. Its adherents feel God is on their side because he hates the same people they do, rather than admitting that they weaponise their own god against the lifestyles they hate. Until the S word is treated like the N word, religious hatred will erupt from its sewer.

An additional worrying dimension of the highest profile murder cases this year is the fact that those in custody accused of killing Aidan Moffitt, Michael Snee and Ashling Murphy seem to be foreign nationals. This will be jumped on by the far right to stir up hatred towards people because, to borrow the words of Philip Guerovitch, they were born a this rather than a that. Vigils suggest the need for vigilance not vigilantism. Our gay friends might not be the only people in need of solidarity in the days ahead.

⏩ Follow on Twitter @AnthonyMcIntyre.