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A gay man was beaten senseless by a ruthless gang of thugs who ambushed him using a dating app.

Gardai are investigating the disgusting homophobic attack which happened to Marc Power in Coolock on Tuesday night.

Marc had arranged to meet someone he was messaging on the app Grindr, but after arriving at the Odeon on Malahide Road he was met by a heartless gang bearing weapons.

Around eight teens swarmed his car and pulled the door open before attacking him with a hammer.

Brave Marc tried to kick them away but was met with more blows as the gang laughed.

The 56-year-old told Dublin Live how he eventually managed to raise the alarm by keeping his hand on the car's horn despite them constantly trying to hit his fingers.

He said: "I pulled in and to the right there were a bunch of bushes next to a path.

"Suddenly a gang of teenage boys swarmed on my car and opened the door.

"They started punching me and were trying to hit me on the head with hammers.

(Image: Marc Power)

"I swung my feet out and kept kicking them away but I couldn't as there was too many of them and they were fast.

"They cut my face with something and there was blood pouring out.

"They were laughing, they thought it was funny, they were calling me a f****t. It was the thing that was really terrifying, this was pure entertainment for them.

"I thought the only way I could get out was to get attention so I kept my hands on the horn.

"They kept hitting my hands but it got enough attention that people started coming over and they ran away into the bush.

"They were still laughing as they were going away.

"This was premeditated, they set up a fake profile, and they set out to meet someone to cause as much damage to that person or even kill them.

"I thought they were trying to kill me."

(Image: Marc Power)

The Coolock native said people then ran to his aid and he was taken inside the cinema where staff looked after him and an ambulance was called.

He's now going public with his horror story as he fears others may have suffered the same fate but are too scared to speak up.

He said: "I want people to be aware of these scumbags. They're out they're planning these things. There's lots of women and men out there who this has happened to and they may be scared.

"I'm scared too I'm not going to lie. But by me not saying something gives them permission to do it again.

"I don't have a lot of faith in the police if I'm being really honest, there's a lot of good ones don't get me wrong, but I don't know if I'll get justice.

"My advice to anyone who's meeting people online is get a number, talk to them on the phone, get them to send pictures or their social media that's verifiable.

"I learnt a big lesson, but luckily I can take care of myself."

Gardai confirmed they're investigating the incident and said that the investigation is ongoing.

A spokesman said: "Gardaí are investigating an assault that took place on Tuesday 15th October at approximately 10:30pm near the Malahide Road in Coolock.

"A male (early 50s) received non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Beaumont Hospital for treatment."