Freddie Mercury first met Jim Hutton in 1984 at a club where he offered to buy Jim a drink. He politely turned Fred down.
Jim Hutton didn’t recognize Freddie at that time. A few months later while at a restaurant Jim’s friend told him: “Hey, Freddie Mercury is behind you.”
When Freddie offered Jim again a drink, he accepted it and they talked for a while. But nothing happened for another year.
About 18 months later, the two met again at the same club. Mercury just like last time offered Jim a drink and the two talked again. This time they got together. Jim ended up moving in the Garden Lodge with Freddie for about 2 years.
When Freddie Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987, he offered Jim an exit on their relationship. He told Jim Hutton that he would understand if he left. In a Freddie Mercury documentary, Jim recalls telling him, “I love you, Freddie – I’m not going anywhere.”
Jim Hutton stayed with Freddie Mercury until he died. Jim nursed him, cared for him, and was there when he took his last breath.
Upon his death, Freddie left Jim £500,000 as well as a plot of land at Rutland Terrace, Carlow where he built a house.
Jim Hutton died in 2010 from a lung cancer. He had then been living with HIV for over 20 years.
