Gardaí are investigating after a man refusing to wear a mask targeted staff at Butler’s Chocolate on Grafton Street with homophobic abuse.
Investigators said the man is alleged to have assaulted a member of the public shortly after the incident, which was widely shared online.
Footage of the incident showed the man calling a member of staff a “stupid c**t” before shouting homophobic slurs at him.
Customers can be heard trying to defend the staff member while the man claimed he had 'started on me'.
The man is alleged to have returned to the shortly after and abused staff again.
Gardaí are also investigating whether he assaulted a member of the public after leaving the shop.
“When the man left for the final time, it is believed he headed in the direction of College Green,” said a Garda spokesperson.
“Gardaí wish to speak to a member of the public who is alleged to have been attacked by this man when he exited the premises.”
The incident occurred at around 4pm last Thursday and investigators are appealing for anyone who was in the Grafton Street area between 3:55pm and 4:25pm to contact them.
The Garda spokesman said investigators take “any crime or incident with a hate motivation” seriously.
He said anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a hate crime is encouraged to come forward.
