Irish Examiner view: We need to enforce hate crime laws

Disturbing rise in racist and homophobic incidents in Ireland

Adam Pidgeon, Enya Eccleston, Tia Weldon, Éadaoin Walsh, Fina Eccleston, Debbie O’Rourke, and Mayor of Waterford Damien Geoghegan outside Waterford City and County Council's buildings at the Mall flying the Pride flag that was cut down last night. Picture: Eoghan Dalton

If anyone still doubts whether we need specific hate crime laws enacted in Ireland, they need only consider the disturbing rise in racist and homophobic incidents here.

On Sunday night, hideous graffiti was daubed on the walls of a building adjacent to one of Dublin’s best-known gay bars, PantiBar on Capel St.