Figures published today show that a total of 676 hate crimes and hate related incidents were recorded by Gardaí last year, up four per cent from 2023.

Incidents were recorded across all nine of the discriminatory motives.

These are outlined by the Equal Status Acts as hate based on gender, marital status, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and membership of the Traveller community

Racism remained the most prevalent motivator at 39% of all cases, an increase from 36% in 2023.

Anti-nationality also increased to a quarter of all motives.

However, homophobia decreased as a motivator, with 70 hate crimes and related incidents recorded in 2024 compared to 109 the previous year.

Anti-racism rally-Dublin, © PA Wire/PA Images

The largest number of hate crime incidents were in public order at 31%, followed by minor assaults at 22%.

Assaults causing harm made up seven per cent of all recorded hate crimes.

The Garda Síochána Analysis Service has noted that "murder threats to kill or cause serious harm" featured higher this year at five per cent.

As was the case in the previous three years, just under half of all hate related incidents occurred in the Dublin Metropolitan Region.

However, there has been a year-on-year reduction.

If you or somebody you know has been targeted by a hate crime, it can be reported online to Gardaí here.

Main image: Irish Garda police lamp sign. Image: Alamy