1 in 3 Hate Crimes in Ireland Are Racially Motivated, Garda Data Shows
Image Credits: Garda.ie
1 in 3 Hate Crimes in Ireland Are Racially Motivated, Garda Data Shows
Text: Izzy Copestake
An investigation by The Journal Investigates has revealed a surge in hate crime.
More than one in three hate-related incidents reported to gardaí last year were racially motivated, data analysed by The Journal Investigates reveals. Anti-race crimes and related incidents have surged by 24% since 2021, with racially motivated attacks now representing the most common form of hate crime in Ireland.
According to figures recorded by An Garda Síochána, 264 out of 676 hate-related incidents in 2024 (39%) were race-based. That compares to 213 incidents of the same kind out of 483 in 2021. The figures were collected through the PULSE reporting system and are flagged with discriminatory motive tags based on “the victim’s or reporting party’s perception.”
This news comes after a rise in racist attacks sparked the Indian embassy to warn it’s citizens living in Ireland last month. The warning urged Indian citizens to avoid isolated areas, particularly at night, and to be conscious of their overall personal safety. “There has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently. The embassy is in touch with the authorities concerned of Ireland in this regard. All Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours.”
This came after a series of racist attacks. Last month an IT worker in his 40s was assaulted by teenagers while walking to a Hindu temple. He was taunted about his presence in Ireland, stripped of some clothing, and beaten, suffering head wounds and a broken nose. A local woman found him bloodied and without trousers. Disturbingly, false claims that he had exposed himself circulated online, amplified by far-right accounts.
On the same day, an Indian student was also attacked by teenagers in nearby Seán Walsh Park, sustaining a broken nose. Community members say additional unreported incidents have been shared privately on WhatsApp, heightening fears. In the same month, a 46-year-old taxi driver Lakhvir Singh was assaulted in Ballymun by two passengers who told him to “go back to your country.” Singh, who has lived in Ireland for 23 years, required 12 stitches and may now be unable to continue working.
As racially motivated hate crimes continue to rise, calls are growing for stronger protections, more effective legislation, and a clearer commitment from the State to confront racism in all its forms.
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