Leitrim influencer faces backlash after hate speech protest

Leitrim influencer James Doyle reports receiving threats, harassment, and abuse since participating in a protest advocating for stricter online hate speech laws last month.​

In a TikTok post over the weekend, Doyle stated, “In the last week, I have received death threats, been harassed, had people attempt to jeopardize my employment, and, to be honest, had individuals try to ruin my life—all because I believe there is a serious problem with bigotry in Ireland.”​

The TikTok star, who gained prominence in 2021, joined a protest organized by LadBible. The demonstration called for Ireland to implement online hate speech laws that would offer enhanced protections for users and enforce consequences for violators.​

Doyle expressed, “I think that racists, homophobes, misogynists, and bigots of all kinds should face consequences for their actions, which I didn't think was a very controversial stance. Obviously, that's not the case, as many are criticizing me.”​

While incitement to hatred and hate speech have been criminalized since the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act 1989, the enforcement and clarity of these laws have been subjects of debate. Similar discussions are ongoing in countries like Canada and the UK, where opponents fear that vaguely defined laws might infringe on freedom of speech.​

Doyle countered, “If you think that having hate speech laws is a violation of your freedom of speech, and the things you want to say would violate such laws, then your opinion is bigoted and harmful. I have never had an opinion that I wanted to express online publicly that I think would get me in trouble if there were hate speech laws.”​

He further clarified, “Protesting against hate speech isn’t protesting against freedom of speech. Everyone deserves an opinion, but if your opinion is to hate someone based on stereotypes motivated by their appearance, then that's terrible, and you are a terrible person.”​

Doyle added, “I think anyone in Ireland has the right not to be treated like a monster because they don't look like 90% of the population.”​

In late 2024, the previous government introduced legislation aimed at combating hate speech, protecting individuals from abuse based on characteristics such as race, color, nationality, religion, national or ethnic origin, descent, disability, gender, sex characteristics, and sexual orientation.

This included increased prison sentences for certain crimes, where proven to be motivated by hatred, or where hatred was demonstrated.

However, in September 2024, Justice Minister Helen McEntee announced that the government would drop plans to introduce hate speech laws, citing a lack of consensus. The decision was met with criticism from various quarters, including human rights organizations and political figures. ​

The previous Prohibition of the Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 was criticized for its limited effectiveness, with only about 50 prosecutions in the over 30 years since its enactment. The Act criminalizes communications intended or likely to incite hatred against groups based on race, color, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, membership of the Traveller community, or sexual orientation. ​

Ireland has faced criticism from international bodies, including the Council of Europe, for lacking specific statutory provisions for hate-aggravated offenses. The absence of comprehensive hate crime legislation has been a point of contention, especially in the context of increasing reports of hate-motivated incidents.

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