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Helpful Information

After reporting a crime, every victim will receive a copy of the “Victim Information Booklet” which contains information about entitlements to access victim support, legal aid, compensation, interpretation, and witness expenses. The booklet sets out the minimum standards on the rights, support and protection for victims of crime.

Victims will receive a range of information from first contact with An Garda Síochána including:

  • which services provide support for victims
  • the procedure for reporting a crime
  • where any enquiries regarding the crime may be addressed
  • what support and assistance a victim may be entitled to in the form of interpretation and translation
  • the role of the victim in the criminal justice process
  • what measures, procedures or arrangements are available to victims
  • how and under what conditions a victim may obtain protection
  • any scheme relating to compensation for injuries suffered as a result of a crime
  • a victim’s right to give evidence or make submissions
  • the procedures for making a complaint to the Garda Síochána, the Ombudsman Commission, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Courts Service, the Irish Prison Service
  • the types of cases in which legal advice and legal aid may be available to a victim
  • any entitlement to expenses arising from the participation of a victim in any proceedings relating to a crime.

The extent and detail of information offered to a victim will be determined by An Garda Síochána, and will depend on the nature of the alleged offence and any specific needs and personal circumstances of the victim which have been identified.

Victims will also receive information about their case, including a decision to end the investigation, not to prosecute and the final judgment (including the reasons for such decisions), and information on the time and place of the trial and the nature of the criminal charges.

The Garda Síochána Victims Charter provides information on what you can expect from An Garda Síochána if you are a victim of crime and takes into account both the support required and, the expectations of victims. To read the Victims Charter click here.

Garda Victim Service Offices

Garda Victim Service Offices are also an excellent source of additional information. 28 Garda Victim Service Offices have been established throughout the country, one in every Garda Division, demonstrating An Garda Síochána’s commitment to putting the victim at the heart of the investigation. These offices ensure victims of crime are kept informed about the progress of their case and the support available to them.

The GVSO are the central point of contact for victims of crime and trauma in each Division and supplement the work already being undertaken by investigating members of An Garda Síochána.

The GVSO’s role is to keep victims informed of all significant developments associated with their case, as well as provide contact details for relevant support/counselling services. The offices are open between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Victims of crime can choose between receiving contact from the offices by phone, letter or email. 

The GVSO model is based on feedback received from victims and victim support organisations, results from our Public Attitude Survey, and victims’ experiences provided to the Garda Inspectorate.

The offices complement the range of measures already in place by An Garda Síochána to support victims of crime such as, the Victims Charter that sets the commitment to victims of crime, and specially trained Family Liaison Officers to liaise with victims of crime in serious cases.

Contact details for all the Garda Victim Service Offices are available by following this link.