SDLP Opposition Justice Spokesperson Patsy McGlone MLA has said the Executive and Minister need to focus on hate crime legislation.
He was speaking after a racist display at a bonfire in Moygashel.
Mr McGlone has advocated strongly to strengthen the hate crime element in the upcoming Sentencing Bill.
Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone said, “If we ever needed a reminder of this place’s failure to properly tackle hate crime it was the disgraceful racist display we saw atop the Moygashel bonfire. We are regularly hearing from victims of hate crime that their cases are not being taken seriously enough and that is a direct result of the Executive and Justice Minister’s failure to introduce robust hate crime legislation.
“The Minister has already rolled back on her commitment to introduce stand-alone hate crime laws, and I have been working at committee to ensure that the provisions in the Sentencing Bill are fit for purpose. I have particularly advocated for social media to be taken into account as an aggravating factor when it comes to hate crime. Too often people are allowed to spread poison online and face no consequences.
“This is ultimately a societal issue, but it’s one that the Executive and Minister have repeatedly failed to grasp. Anyone engaging in a hate-motivated incident must face a punishment that fits the crime. What kind of message does it send to victims and minority communities in the North if the law cannot protect them from hateful abuse and violence?”
ENDS
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