Almost a quarter of hate-crimes recorded in 2023 were in the north west region.
Just over 650 such incidents were reported to Gardaí nationally last year, up from 582 in 2022.
A hate incident is recorded when it is believed to relate to a victim’s age, disability, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender.
In figures published by Gardaí, 21% of these occurred in the north west.
The most prevalent discriminatory motive was anti-race at 36%, followed by 18% anti-nationality and anti-sexual orientation at 16%.
It is the first time in the three years that the figures have been recorded that anti-nationality has overtaken anti-sexual orientation.
The largest number of hate crimes, 27% were public order offences, followed by minor assaults at 16% and criminal damage – not by fire – at 9%.
In one incident reported to Gardaí in the north west, a post office worker was approached by a man in his 30s who racially abused her.
The man was subsequently convicted at the district court and received a two-month suspended sentence.
Another incident reported in the north west involved where a youth was referred to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme after they were observed shouting racial slurs towards a member of the public.
