Hate crimes reported to Gardaí rose 15% in 2025

Hate crimes and hate-related incidents reported to An Garda Síochána increased by 15 percent in 2025, with 780 cases recorded compared to 676 in 2024, according to the latest official figures. The data, published on August 14, 2026, covers the first full year under the Criminal Justice Hate Offences Act 2024, which came into effect on December 31, 2024. The legislation defines hate crimes as criminal offences aggravated by hatred against a person or group based on protected characteristics such as race, colour, nationality, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, and disability.

Of the 780 incidents recorded, 688 were classified as hate crimes, up from 592 in 2024, while 92 were hate-related non-crime incidents, compared to 84 the previous year. Anti-race was the most common discriminatory motive, accounting for 40 percent of all motives recorded. Anti-nationality accounted for 23 percent, while anti-sexual orientation motives remained unchanged at 70 incidents, though its share of all recorded motives fell from 10 to 8 percent.

Public order offences represented the largest category of incidents at 32 percent, followed by minor...