No hate

By Contributing Writer on Friday, October 29, 2010 - 22:15

[Editor’s Note: This article was written by the team of Gaelick, an award-winning Irish website for LGBT-news.]

[On October 24th] at 7pm in the United Kingdom, vigils were held in London’s Trafalgar Square, in Brighton and in Nottingham to speak out against hate crimes, and to remember those who have been victims of such crimes.

In September 2009, Ian Baynham (62) was viciously beaten in Trafalgar Square by three teenagers. Two weeks later, in October, he died as a result of the injuries he sustained. Throughout Britain and Northern Ireland, reports of violence against LGBT people have been increasing.

The event was presented by actor and musician Heather Peace. The Mayor of Camden, Jonathan Simpson, and broadcaster, Amy Lamé, read a list of names of people in the UK who have been affected by hate crimes. One of the keynote speakers was the nephew of Harvey Milk, Stuart Milk (Harvey Milk Foundation).

A minute’s silence was held at 8pm.

There is no hate crime legislation in Ireland, so technically hate crimes don’t exist in this country. The only thing that comes near is the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989. The Act is notoriously difficult to enforce, and the crime of incitement to hatred is notoriously difficult to prosecute. Since it came into force, there have been fewer than five convictions under the statute.

A spokesman from the Garda Press Office told Gaelick that published crime figures, and those published by the CSO, are those specified in Ireland’s criminal legislation. The motives of crimes are not included in these statistics. There is no official record of the extent of hate crimes committed in the State. There is no criminal penalty for those who commit homophobic, racist or other hate crimes.

Around the world today, governments are increasingly recognising the need for criminalising hate crimes, and are passing laws to do so. In 1983, Declan Flynn (31) was chased, beaten and killed during a homophobic attack in Fairview Park, Dublin. His attackers were found guilty of manslaughter, but had their sentences suspended. Afterwards the guilty and their supporters held a ‘victory march’ in the park where Flynn’s life was ended. As recently as in the last few years, defences of ‘gay panic’ have been successfully pleaded in criminal trials in Ireland.

In Trafalgar Square last night, members of local government and the parliamentary opposition called on the UK government to pass hate crimes legislation.

Where are these calls in Ireland?