Vandalism of The George could fall under hate crime legislation

Last night the iconic LGBT bar The George was vandalised.

The bar and club, which has maintained its place on South Georges Street, Dublin since 1987, was defaced with homophobic slurs.

According to the No Hate Speech Ireland group, the incident could be treated 'as homophobic in it's intent' under the Incitement to Hatred Act 1989.

The George being vandalised is such an upsetting thing pic.twitter.com/VL6taoLBqz

— Co (@ConanGShore) May 20, 2017

'In general this is quite a shocking incident as that area of Dublin in mostly quite safe and LGBTQ friendly,' said No Hate Speech Ireland spokesperson Ian McGahon.

'In the graffiti they used the swastika, this is particularly disturbing given that that thousands of gay men were sent to their death in the Nazi Germany concentration camps.'

'The graffiti used was abusive and is certainly homophobic in using the Nazi symbols and also the terminology 'f****** out.' 

Never allow people to become complacent enough to believe that homophobia is not an issue in Ireland when the George has a swastika on it

— Mantis Toboggan, M.D (@beirchearts) May 20, 2017

'It could certainly be registered on the Garda pulse recording system as homophobic in it's intent.'

'In general there have been very very few prosecutions under the incitement to hatred act 1989.'

'No Hate Speech movement Ireland would support this type of crime to be punished under hate crime legislation.'

The No Hate Speech Movement Ireland is coordinated by the National Youth Council of Ireland