Don't Hate, Debate! In Collaboration With Victim Support NI

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! A special event held in collaboration with Victim Support NI and hosted in the Crescent Arts Centre, titled Don't Hate, Debate!

In late 2025, it appeared that new hate crime legislation was likely to be tabled and debated in the NI Assembly, and Victim Support NI's position was that new legislation should be passed in order to better support victims. This event was held to explore the differing views on the topic and establish the best steps forward.

To that end two motions were debated, "This House Believes Hate Crime Legislation Is Not Fit For Purpose" and "This House Believes Communities Address Hate Crime Better Than The Criminal Justice System".

On the first motion, speaking for the Proposition were Beth Lynam, Lee Walker, and James Tourish, and speaking for the Opposition were Florence Dairo, Dhivyah Chandrasegaran, and Rosa Ivory.

On the second motion, speaking for the Proposition were Bakaer Noble, Nihal Bhatt, and Luke Coyle, and speaking for the Opposition were Maeve Gee, Mikayla Williams, and Rea Thien.

Timestamps as follows:

Debate one: This House Believes Hate Crime Legislation Is Not Fit For Purpose

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:00:00) Opening Remarks from the President, Daniel Devenney

(00:03:25) Rules of the Debate

(00:04:43) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:05:49) Opening Remarks from the Guest Chair, Professor Kevin Brown

(00:06:44) Beth Lynam, First Prop

(00:12:59) Florence Dairo, First Opp

(00:19:43) Lee Walker, Second Prop

(00:26:45) Dhivyah Chandrasegaran, Second Opp

(00:34:24) James Tourish, Third Prop

(00:41:31) Rosa Ivory, Third Opp

(00:49:06) Questions from the House

(01:00:27) Closing Remarks from the President

(01:01:24) Closing Remarks from the Guest Chair, Professor Kevin Brown

(01:02:29) The Vote

(01:04:04) Inter-Debate Segue by Mandy McAuley

Debate two: This House Believes Communities Address Hate Crime Better Than The Criminal Justice System

(01:04:44) Second Motion

(01:05:17) Intro and Rules

(01:06:06) Vote of Prior Opinion

(01:06:59) Opening Remarks from the Guest Chair, Mandy McAuley

(01:07:28) Bakaer Noble, First Prop

(01:12:53) Maeve Gee, First Opp

(01:20:06) Nihal Bhatt, Second Prop

(01:27:10) Mikayla Williams, Second Opp

(01:33:31) Luke Coyle, Third Prop

(01:41:08) Rea Thien, Third Opp

(01:49:01) Questions from the House

(02:08:20) Closing Remarks from the Guest Chair, Mandy McAuley

(02:10:16) The Vote

(02:11:12) Closing Remarks from the President

(02:12:29) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!