The review will examine issues such as a workable and agreed definition of a hate crime; whether the current enhanced sentence approach is appropriate for Northern Ireland; and whether new categories of hate crime should be created for characteristics such as gender.

It will also examine the implementation of the current legislative framework for incitement offences, in particular Part III of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987, and make recommendations for improvements.

The review will look at how any identified gaps, anomalies and inconsistencies can be addressed in any new legislative framework, ensuring this interacts effectively with other legislation guaranteeing human rights and equality.

It will also consider the potential for alternative or mutually supportive restorative approaches for dealing with hate-motivated offending.

The review, which fulfils a commitment given by former Justice Minister Claire Sugden and follows calls from across the criminal justice sector, is expected to produce a written report by May 2020.

Judge Marrinan will be supported by a reference group comprising a core group of relevant experts, and a broader forum of key stakeholders.

The judge, who called to The Bar of Northern Ireland in 1972 and later to The Bar of Ireland, served as a County Court judge from 2003–18, dealing mostly with criminal trials in the Crown Court.

He was the Recorder of Londonderry from 2008–2011 and continues to sit as a Deputy County Court judge and as a Parole Commissioner.