Plumber Fined For Homophobic Attack On Gay Man Over Rainbow Home
Image: Melbourne hairdresser Mykey O鈥橦alloran (left) and his attacker Jai Ryan (right).
A 24-year-old plumber Jai Ryan on Thursday pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful assault, following a homophobic attack on Melbourne hairdresser Mykey O鈥橦alloran at his Phillip Island Home. 听Ryan is now placed 听under a one year听good behaviour bond and has been ordered to pay a $2,500 fine to Thorne Harbour Health.
by Star Observer, Ryan verbally attacked O鈥橦alloran over his plans to paint his new Phillip Island house in rainbow colours.
The Herald Sun reported that Magistrate Marita Altman听in a scathing judgment, slammed Ryan’s actions as 鈥渦neducated, ignorant and breathlessly stupid鈥�.
鈥淵ou are a white, heterosexual, cisgender male. You have all the privilege in the world,” the magistrate said.
鈥淕ays are everywhere,鈥� Altman said, 鈥渢hey work in the court, the police force 鈥� our community is beautifully diverse.鈥�
O鈥橦alloran told Star Observer that it felt 听good to know that the LGBTQI+ community was supported in the justice system. “It feels good knowing the court has said exactly how it is. Sometimes people don鈥檛 realise how privileged they are until they鈥檙e called out on bad behaviour,” said O鈥橦alloran.
Ryan Said Gay People “Freak Him Out”
罢丑别听Korumburra Magistrates鈥� Court had heard that Ryan had threatened O鈥橦alloran and used homophobic slurs against him. 听鈥淪ee what happens if you do (paint your house), you gay cunt,鈥� Ryan allegedly yelled, adding 鈥渇ucking faggot cunt鈥�, before his friends dragged him away.
Following his arrest, Ryan was questioned by the police and admitted to being on O鈥橦alloran鈥檚 property on the night of the attack. He denied having either threatened or hurt O鈥橦alloran. Ryan had allegedly told police he was angry because he had a 鈥渟hit day at work鈥� and that he didn鈥檛 like gay people because they 鈥渇reak him out鈥�. He claimed that a rainbow house in the neighbourhood would 鈥渄evalue his property鈥�.
Traumatising Attack
In April, O鈥橦alloran told Star Observer that the 听March 16th attack 鈥�was really shocking and traumatising and a total invasion of my personal space. Five men came onto my property around twenty to ten at night and were yelling homophobic slurs and telling me not to paint my house rainbow. One even threatened to come back and kill me if I did paint my house.鈥�
After news of the attack went viral, the local Phillip Island and Gippsland community rallied behind O鈥橦alloran, and helped him paint his house in rainbow colours.
‘One-off Isolated Incident’
Ryan鈥檚 lawyer Rebecca Fairthorne reportedly claimed 听he 鈥渨as under stress at work at the time of the attack.鈥�
鈥淗e learnt a lot of information from the community about the plan to decorate the property. It wasn鈥檛 clear what the plans were and he was highly concerned about the impact on his property.鈥�
In his victim impact statement, O鈥橦alloran told the court that the attack had brought back past childhood trauma 听bullying and assaults in high school. O鈥橦alloran said that following the incident he has had nightmares about Ryan.
Ryan鈥檚 lawyer argued 听that it was a one-off and isolated incident. 听鈥淗e can鈥檛 change the conduct on the night but in an attempt to move forward, he has apologised to the victim,鈥� the lawyer added.
If you feel distressed reading the story, you can reach out to support services.
For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14
For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or .
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