Emotional launch of Bondi memorial to victims of gay hate crimes

The opening of the Bondi memorial to gay and transgender victims of hate crimes provoked strong emotions at Marks Park in Tamarama on Saturday, including for David McMahon.

David McMahon was attacked in the park in 1989, just weeks after the body of John Russell was found at the base of the cliffs below the Bondi to Bronte walk, a death initially regarded by the police as misadventure.

«I never saw violence until it happened to me», he said to watoday.com.au reports.

According to watoday.com.au, McMahon was one of several gay men who were assaulted or murdered at Marks Park during a decades-long wave of violence against LGBTQ people in Sydney, Australia.

McMahon said he did not visit the park for a long time and «even now, today, it was a bit much»,.