Hate crimes up 84% as Gardaí launch new online reporting tool

Paula Fagan, chief executive of LBGT Ireland and a member of the Garda national Diversity Forum, said that in her opinion hate crimes are probably underreported

Between January and June 2021, some 238 hate crimes and hate incidents were reported. File photo: iStock

Incidences of hate crime have increased by an astonishing 84% in just 12 months, the gardaí have said.

At the launch of a new online hate crime reporting tool, the gardaí provided a “snapshot” of the increase in hate crimes, and lesser hate ‘incidents’, in the six months between January and June 2021.