Author of homophobic crime report killed
The managing director of a research consultancy specialising in gay and lesbian issues died after being attacked near his home in south east London.
Tony Hoare, 49, was attacked last week as he walked his two Jack Russell dogs in Charlton Park.
He was found unconscious and died shortly after being taken to hospital.
The organiser of a vigil to be held this evening in his memory told the Evening Standard that Mr Hoare was the victim of homophobic abuse in The Swan pub the night he was killed.
A 42-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter. Two others were arrested and later bailed.
Mr Hoare founded Stormbreak nine years ago.
The research consultancy conducts projects within mainstream areas of research and services organisations and companies with an interest in lesbian and gay issues and the “pink economy.”
He recently published a report which claimed there was wide underreporting of homophobic crime in London.
“The main reason for not reporting homophobic crime was because the incident had been considered insufficiently serious,” his report, Homophobic Crime in London, read.
“Commonplace verbal abuse, for example, was hardly ever reported. This suggests that the London lesbian and gay community simply puts up with insults, threats and ridicule in public and (as often identified) in the workplace as a fact of everyday life.
“Perceived police ineffectiveness to solve crime, negative attitudes towards lesbian and gay people and (the related) fear of disclosing homosexuality to the police have also emerged as main barriers to reporting homophobic crime.”
Before embarking on a career in market research, Mr Hoare lectured for five years at colleges of further education.
The organiser of this evening’s vigil, which will be held at the spot where Mr Hoare was attacked, paid tribute to him today.
“He was a lovely, gentle, intelligent man,” Hal Satterthwaite told the Evening Standard.
