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A former judge has expressed his deep disappointment at the delay in implementing new legislation to address the issue of hate crimes in Northern Ireland. Desmond Marrinan, who had recommended strengthening the laws five years ago, highlighted the alarming rise in racially-motivated attacks, with police figures reaching record levels since the start of recording in 2004. Justice Minister Naomi Long is set to introduce legislation in the upcoming weeks to address some of Marrinan’s key proposals.
Long stated that the new legislation incorporates the most impactful suggestions put forward by Marrinan. This includes provisions for harsher sentences in cases where hate motivations are proven. Marrinan himself expressed shock and horror at recent events, such as riots related to immigration protests and confrontations by street gangs against individuals from ethnic minority communities. He noted that these trends were already present during his independent review of hate crime legislation in 2020.
The delay in enacting legislative changes was attributed to the breakdown of Stormont between 2022 and 2024. Marrinan acknowledged the challenges faced by the Department of Justice and the minister in navigating this process. Despite the setbacks, he commended the progress being made and emphasized the importance of taking action now. Describing the developments as “better late than never,” Marrinan believes that the implementation of these measures will have a significant impact in combatting hate crimes, especially when combined with educational initiatives.
Ultimately, Marrinan remains hopeful that the combination of legislative reforms and educational efforts will help stem the tide of hate crimes in Northern Ireland. He underlined the importance of sending a strong message through these actions and expressed confidence in their potential to bring about positive change in addressing the wave of hate crime incidents in the region
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