Justice Minister urged to 'stop delaying' enactment of hate crime legislation
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Justice Minister Helen McEntee has been urged to enact long-mooted hate crime legislation "without further delay" following the alleged attack of three gay men in Phoenix Park on Monday.
The incident was highlighted in the Seanad by Fine Gael’s Barry Ward who was contacted by one of the men who was targeted. Mr Ward said the man told him that he and two of his friends were “hunted down” by a group of six men carrying knives in Phoenix Park.
“Apparently the Phoenix Park is not safe for people. These guys were just walking through the park and were chased by six men. What on earth is going on that this still happens in Ireland in 2024 when every right-thinking member of society recognised the normality of sexual relationships between people of the same gender or same sex?" he told the Seanad.
CEO of Outhouse Oisín O’Reilly said Ms McEntee must "stop delaying" the enactment of the hate crime and hate speech bill that was promised before Christmas following the Dublin riots in November last year. Outhouse is an LGBT centre aimed to serve the greater Dublin region.
Mr O'Reilly said: "I think the Phoenix Park incident is shocking and troubling, but it reflects a persistent issue in our society that LGBT people continue to be targeted just for being themselves.
“It really underscores the need for the hate crime legislation to be enacted without further delay. We will be expressing that to government as a community over the next couple of days."
Lawmakers have been tussling in recent months over the wording of the bill, which aims to introduce laws that would see “hate” become an aggravating factor in certain offences. Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he will pass an amended version of the hate speech legislation before the next general election.
Outhouse served over 42,000 people last year and they provide supports, including helping people report hate crimes to An Garda Síochana, events and pathways to employment for the LGBT people in greater Dublin.
According to An Garda Síochána’s 2023 Hate Crime Data and Related Discrimination Motives report, there has been a 12% increase in the number of hate crime and hate-related incidents reported to gardaí in 2023 compared to 2022.
Mr O’Reilly said the underreporting of hate crime in Ireland is prominent but the increase in reporting is welcome. He also said the engagement between An Garda Síochána and communities is very important.
“I think initiatives like the Dublin City Rejuvenation Plan and the Taoiseach’s new task force for Dublin city centre are vitally important to tackle the root cause,” he added.
A spokesperson said An Garda Síochana are appealing for anyone with direct knowledge or who has been a victim of a hate incident to contact An Garda Síochána or the Diversity Unit at the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau on 01 666 3150 or through an advocacy group.
“An Garda Síochána through the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau and Community Policing Unit in Cabra Garda Station have been in contact with LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups,” they added.
Outhouse can be contacted (01) 873 4999 or email info@outhouse.ie.