Criminal Justice Minister John Spellar has announced that he is to extend proposals for new legislation to tackle so-called 'hate crime' to include crimes against people with disabilities.

The draft legislation, which will be laid in Parliament shortly, will include a statutory requirement for judges to treat racial and religious aggravation and hatred of sexual orientation or disability as an aggravating factor when sentencing.

During a debate at the Northern Ireland Grand Committee – Westminster, Mr Spellar said: "The Government is pleased to be bringing forward draft legislation which will enhance the law to tackle crime motivated by hatred.

"In addition to protections provided on the basis of race, religion and sexuality, I have included protection for people with disabilities under the draft legislation. I have done this as a result of representations made to me during the recent public consultation exercise and in response to the recommendations in the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee's Report into 'hate crime' in Northern Ireland."

Welcoming the news, Mid Ulster Sinn Fein spokesperson on disability Geraldine Dougan said: “The announcement by John Spellar that people with disabilities are to be included in the new draft legislation designed to combat the rising incidents of ‘hate crime’ is to be welcomed.

“Throughout Ireland there has been a marked increase in the number of attacks where the aggravating factor has been the ethnicity or sexual orientation of the victim. There are compelling arguments for including attacks on the disabled that are often never reported. Such activity is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any civilised society."

The legislation, which will cover attacks on both people or property, will give the Court's sentencing powers - mainly in relation to specified crimes of violence and which are often connected with "hate crime" - a proposed increase.

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