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Republic of Ireland: Concerns grow over ‘hate bill’ which could criminalise beliefs

Republic of Ireland: Concerns grow over ‘hate bill’ which could criminalise beliefs
Paul Murphy | Source: Facebook
ET staff writer
ET staff writer
31 May, 2023 2 min read

Citizens in the Republic of Ireland could be arrested for ‘hateful thoughts’ under Ireland’s proposed Criminal Justice Bill, according to the Christian Institute.

Paul Murphy (pictured), Teachta Dála for Dublin South-West, told fellow parliamentarians during a debate in the lower house that section 10 of the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Crime) Bill 2022 could criminalise people simply for being in possession of material deemed ‘hateful’.

In the debate, Murphy said the proposed legislation currently ‘creates the possibility of a person being criminalised, purely for having material that is hateful, without that material being communicated to the public.

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