Justice committee chair says hate crime bill needs tweaking

Fianna Fáil TD James Lawless argued that basing convictions on proof of motivation alone would render it weak and ineffective against such crimes

Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice: the new hate crime bill has been criticised because it does not include a ‘demonstration test’ that allows a court to consider more than just the motivation of an offender. Picture: Collins

Any new legislation to bring those who commit hate crimes to justice must be practical to ensure it will result in convictions, according to the chair of the Oireachtas justice committee.

James Lawless, the Fianna Fáil TD, said it was important that Ireland’s first hate crime law included a “demonstration test” to allow a court to consider more than just the motivation of an offender.

At present, the general scheme of the Criminal Justice (Hate ...