Hate Crimes and Hate Related Incidents Rise 15% Nationally in 2025, Two Cork City Cases Among Findings

An Garda Síochána has published its 2025 figures on Hate Crimes and Hate Related Incidents, recording a 15% increase on the previous year, with two Cork City Division cases featured among the national case studies.

The report, the fifth of its kind, has been produced to align with the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act, 2024, which prescribes discriminatory motives associated with the following protected characteristics: Race, Colour, Nationality, Religion, National or Ethnic Origin, Descent, Gender, Sex Characteristics, Sexual Orientation and Disability.

A total of 780 Hate Crimes and Hate Related (non-crime) Incidents were recorded in 2025, up from 676 in 2024. This comprised 688 Hate Crimes (592 in 2024) and 92 Hate Related (non-crime) Incidents (84 in 2024).

Anti-race remained the most prevalent discriminatory motive at 40% of all motives, up from 39% in 2024, while anti-nationality decreased to 23% of all motives, from 25% in 2024. Anti-sexual orientation remained static at 70 incidents in 2025, though this represents a drop from 10% to 8% as a proportion of all motives recorded annually.

Hate motives were evident in a variety of reported criminal incidents. The largest percentage was recorded in public order (32%), followed by minor assaults (16%), criminal damage (not by fire) (13%), assault causing harm (7%), and murder/threats (4%).

As was the case in the previous three years, just under half (49%) of all Hate Related Incidents occurred in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. There has been a year-on-year increase in incidents reported in all but the Southern Region. The other operational regions recorded were the Eastern Region (20%), the Southern Region (14%) and the North-Western Region (16%).

Cork City Division cases

Two of the eight case studies published nationally relate to the Cork City Division. In April 2025, two males used derogatory language and actions towards a same-sex couple at a licensed premises. Following investigation, two males, aged in their 40s, were arrested and charged with public order offences. Upon conviction in court, they were fined a total of €850.

In August 2025, a person was verbally abused in relation to their gender identity in a library. Following investigation, two male juveniles were identified and referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme, where a caution was administered.

Reporting and supports

An Garda Síochána has a dedicated mechanism to report such incidents via the Online Hate Crime Reporting Portal. Hate Crimes and Hate Related Incidents can also be reported directly to any Garda Station or via the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

At present there are over 600 Garda Diversity Officers working across every Garda division, who engage with minority communities and individuals on a daily basis, to provide them with re-assurance and address issues of concern for them. Up to the end of 2025, 4,500 Garda personnel had undertaken a certificate programme in Human Rights and Policing, delivered in collaboration with the University of Limerick.

Jane Humphries, Chief Superintendent, Garda National Community Engagement Bureau (GNCEB):

"While we note that these figures do represent an increase in reporting of hate related matters, An Garda Síochána does welcome the fact that more people feel confident to make contact with us and make a report. It is acknowledged that Hate Crime and Hate Related Incidents are under-reported in Ireland, and this is why we encourage victims and those who witness such incidents to engage with us.

When a person or group is targeted because of a fundamental characteristic, it has a very deep impact on that individual or group and as such cannot, and should not, be tolerated in Irish society as it tarnishes our values and what we stand for. Together we must continue to reject hate and discrimination and consistently remind one another that everyone has a right to live safely and free from prejudice. Incidents of this nature are not, and never will be, acceptable.

And so today, I want to encourage anyone who has experienced an incident or crime which has been motivated by hate, to please come forward and report your experience. An Garda Síochána is committed to upholding the human rights of all, and will support you in any way that we can."

Note on the figures: all figures were taken from PULSE and are correct as of 24 March 2026. Figures are operational and may be liable to change; crime counting rules have not been applied to reflect all incidents reported.

Figures from 2025 may not be directly comparable to those recorded previously, due to hate-related discriminatory motive changes introduced following the commencement of the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act on 31 December 2024.