The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime is an independent body which operates under the aegis of the Department of Justice and Law Reform. It provides funding for voluntary sector organisations supporting victims of crime.

The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime

assists in the development of strategies and policies to support victims of crime
provides financial assistance to voluntary bodies that support victims of crime
encourages the provision of services for victims of crime in all areas of the country
works in association with the Victims of Crime Office
promotes awareness of the services available to victims of crime
supports the Crime Victims Helpline

CONTACTS:

Website: http://www.csvc.ie/

An Garda Síochána

An Garda Síochána is Ireland’s national police service.

An Garda Síochána

performs its functions at national and local level
makes referrals to victim support agencies
provides information on cases and support to victims
promotes an inter-agency approach to problem solving and improving the overall quality of life
works to achieve prevention, reduction in crime and the fear of crime

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.garda.ie

Irish Courts Service

The Courts Service is an independent statutory agency, established by the Courts Service Act 1998, which manages the courts, supports the judiciary and ensures a quality service to all users of the court.

The Courts Service

performs its functions at national and local level
provides facilities for victims and their family in all new and refurbished court buildings
manages and maintains court buildings
works with victim support groups to provide a court accompaniment service

CONTACTS:

Websitehttps://www.courts.ie/judgments

Director of Public Prosecutions

The Director of Public Prosecutions is the public prosecutor for the state and is an independent office established under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974, where decisions are taken free from political or other undue influence.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions:

aims to operate to the highest professional standards and to treat all those with whom it has dealings fairly, equally and consistently, without any wrongful discrimination
has three divisions: Directing Division, Solicitors Division and Administration Division
considers victims’ views when making decisions
appeals a sentence to a higher court if considered unduly lenient
considers requests for reviews of the decision and in appropriate cases carries out an independent internal review
See booklets Going to Court as a Witness and The Role of the DPP available in nine languages.

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.dppireland.ie

The Probation Service

The Probation Service is an agency of the Department of Justice and Law Reform. The role of the service is to act as lead agency in the assessment and management of offenders in the community.

The Probation Service

performs its functions at national and local level
provides probation supervision, community service, anti-offending behaviour programmes and specialist support services
provides services to both adult and young offenders, in the community and in custody and aims to stop them committing further offences
conducts family conferences and on the request of the court provides a Victim Impact Report
directs restitution by offenders in appropriate cases

CONTACTS:

Website: http://www.probation.ie/

The Prison Service

The Prison Service is an independent body since 1996, which operates as an executive agency of the Department of Justice and Law Reform. The Irish Prison Service deals with male offenders who are 16 years of age or over and female offenders who are 17 years of age or over.

The Prison Service

performs its functions at national and local level
ensures that no additional distress is caused to victims by any action of an offender while imprisoned
deals with male offenders who are 16 years of age or over and female offenders who are 17 years of age or over
has a mission to provide safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison
is committed to managing custodial sentences in a way which encourages and supports prisoners

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.irishprisons.ie

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal administers the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted under which victims of crime can apply for compensation.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

administers the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted
considers applications from people who suffer a personal injury or death as a result of a crime of violence
will look for a Garda report on the crime

The Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted

pays compensation for expenses and losses suffered as a direct result of a violent crime or while assisting or trying to assist in preventing a crime or saving a human life
may award compensation on the basis of any vouched out of pocket expenses, including loss of earnings, experienced by the victim or, if the victim has died as a result of the incident, by the dependants of the victim

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0bff8-criminal-injuries-compensation-scheme/

Citizens Information Board

The Citizens Information Board is the statutory body which supports the provision of information, advice and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services.

The Citizens Information Board

performs its functions on national and local level
provides the Citizens Information website, http://www.citizensinformation.ie/, and supports the voluntary network of Citizens Information Centres and the Citizens Information Phone Service 1890 777 121

CONTACTS:

Website: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/

Legal Aid Board

The Legal Aid Board is an independent, publicly-funded organisation whose mission is "To provide a professional, efficient, cost-effective and accessible legal aid and advice service".

The Legal Aid Board

performs its functions at national and local level
is responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995
provides legal aid and advice primarily by solicitors employed by the Board in law centres
provides services on a nationwide basis through 33 full-time and 12 part-time law centres,
incorporating three full-time law centres comprising the Refugee Legal Service (RLS)

CONTACTS:

Website: http://www.legalaidboard.ie/

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission is responsible for receiving and dealing with all complaints made by members of the public concerning the conduct of members of An Garda Síochána.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

has the mission to provide the public with an independent and effective oversight of policing, and to deal with the public’s complaints concerning Gardaí fairly and efficiently
is also obliged to investigate any matter that appears to it to indicate that the conduct of a Garda may have resulted in death of, or serious harm to, a person

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.gardaombudsman.ie

Crime Victims Helpline

The Crime Victims Helpline provides information, emotional support and referral to other services to victims of crime. Its phone number is Freephone 116006 or call-save 1850 211 407.

For more information, click here.

Rape Crisis Network Ireland

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) acts as an umbrella organisation for rape crisis centres in Ireland to provide services such as counselling, advice, helpline, advocacy, SATU/medical forensic examination accompaniment and court accompaniment.

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI)

performs its functions at national and local level
provides support and information to member Rape Crisis Centres
campaigns for funding and improvement of services
undertakes research and collects data relating to sexual violence
campaigns for the social and legislative changes
raises public awareness about sexual violence and the needs of survivors

CONTACTS:

Website: http://https://www.rcni.ie/

Support After Crime Services

The Support After Crime Services is a voluntary service founded in January 2006, which provides emotional and practical support to all persons affected by crime.

The Support After Crime Services

offer victims of crime practical and emotional support in a confidential manner operating under clear guidelines and policies
provide victims of crime with information on the criminal justice system
give practical assistance in completion of a victim impact statement
accompany victims/witnesses to court

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.supportaftercrimeservices.ie

Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid is a national voluntary organisation which provides support and information to women and their children who are being physically, emotionally, financially and sexually abused in their own homes.

Women's Aid

performs its functions on national and local level
is a feminist, political and campaigning organisation committed to the elimination of violence and abuse of women through effecting political, cultural and social change
provides direct support services to women experiencing male violence and abuse
works from the principles of empowerment, collective action, self-help and mutual aid, inclusion and equality
provides direct services to women experiencing domestic violence through National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 ( available from 10a.m. to 10p.m.) and court accompaniment service
has self-development programmes and provides one-to-one support visits, outreach services, referrals to other agencies and advocacy

Website: https://www.womensaid.ie

Court Support Service

The Court Support Service is a voluntary organisation, funded by the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime. Its volunteers are trained to support prosecution witnesses and their families who have been called to court to give evidence.

Court Support Services

is a voluntary organisation that provides support both before and during court proceedings in the Four Courts and at Tallaght District Court only.
its volunteers offer emotional support to the witnesses by accompanying them into court and remaining with them throughout the duration of the trial
its volunteers will arrange to meet the witnesses prior to the trial and take them on a ‘Pre-trial Visit

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.vsac.ie

Advic

Advic is national, non-profit registered charity which campaigns for greater rights for victims of homicide, their families and friends.

Advic

brings together families bereaved by homicide including those affected by murder, manslaughter and fatal assault
provides assistance and information to families via phone and email regarding issues they are faced with after the homicide, including referral to pertinent agencies; helps families to deal with the practicalities arising after a homicide
advocates for changes in our criminal justice system
helps families to survive the trauma of homicide by running a subsidised professional counselling service for families and friends of homicide victims
helps families of homicide victims to access the voluntary assistance scheme run by the Bar Council

CONTACTS:

Website: https://advic.ie

One in Four

One in Four is a registered charity with offices in Dublin, Ireland, which offers support for women and men who have experienced sexual abuse and/or sexual violence and also to their family and friends.

One in Four

exists to give voice to the experience of people who have experienced sexual abuse and/or sexual violence

actively seeks and welcomes at all levels of the organisation's work the involvement of people who have experienced sexual violence

provides a unique service to individuals and families through individual psychotherapy, group therapy, advocacy/support, and 24-hour support on online message boards; through campaigning, policy making, in-house research, training and consultancy work with statutory and non statutory agencies

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.oneinfour.ie

Irish Tourist Assistance Service

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) is a free nationwide service offering support and assistance to tourists who become victims of crime while visiting Ireland.

The Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS)

acts as a base where problems facing the tourist in the aftermath of a crime can be addressed promptly, with a view to getting holiday plans back on track
has trained staff and volunteers, who speak a variety of languages and provide assistance;
provides brochures in all tourist offices

CONTACTS:

Website: https://itas.ie

CARI

The CARI Foundation is a registered charity founded in 1989 which primary aim is to provide a professional, child-centred therapy and counselling service to children, families, and groups who have been affected by child sexual abuse.

CARI

aims to provide the most up to date education and information service for children, adults and professionals on the dynamics of child sexual abuse
aims to raise public and political awareness of these issues
aims to guarantee that they have in place sufficient resources nationwide to meet the demand that this increased awareness will promote provides Helpline where callers are able to explore concerns, feelings and fears regarding child sexual abuse in safety and anonymity
provides therapy for children and young people whose lives have been disrupted by experiences, exposure to, or allegations of sexual violence

CONTACTS:

Website: http://www.cari.ie/

AMEN

AMEN is a voluntary group, which provides a confidential helpline, a support service and information for male victims of domestic abuse.

AMEN

provides advice, support and legal information to male victims of domestic abuse and their children
has a Confidential Helpline
organises support group meetings whose purpose is to rebuild each member so that he can take up his place in life, strengthened and enriched by the experience
provides court accompaniment and counselling

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.mensaid.ie

Federation for Victim Assistance

The Federation for Victim Assistance has as main objective to provide emotional and practical support to victims of crime.

The Federation for Victim Assistance

provides victim assistance at court and counselling
provides assistance for tourist victims of crime
helps with victim impact statements

CONTACTS:

Website: https://victimassistance.ie

Blue Blindfold.gov.ie

Ireland is a member of a European G6 Human Trafficking Initiative designed to ensure that the EU becomes more hostile environment for criminals engaged in the trafficking of human beings. The other five countries involved in the initiative are the UK, Poland, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. The campaign is designed to encourage the public to share any suspicions

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.blueblindfold.ie

Ruhama

Ruhama is a Dublin-based NGO which works on a national level with women affected by prostitution.

Ruhama is an NGO that works, on a national level, with women affected by prostitution including those who are victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. Ruhama provides a comprehensive range of services to women, tailoring interventions to individual needs. Ruhama provides a range of supports to allow women exit prostitution and reintegrate into mainstream society: including outreach, advocacy, counselling, safe accommodation, education (in-house and external), development/resettlement programmes, befriending, long-term support until woman becomes independent. Ruhama help women to access legal services, health care and housing. Victims of Trafficking have access to all services listed above.

CONTACTS:

Website: https://www.ruhama.ie

Last update: 16/04/2024

The national language version of this page is maintained by the respective Member State. The translations have been done by the European Commission service. Possible changes introduced in the original by the competent national authority may not be yet reflected in the translations. The European Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to any information or data contained or referred to in this document. Please refer to the legal notice to see copyright rules for the Member State responsible for this page.

Victims' rights - by country

The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime

An Garda Síochána

Irish Courts Service

Director of Public Prosecutions

The Probation Service

The Prison Service

Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal

Citizens Information Board

Legal Aid Board

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

Crime Victims Helpline

Rape Crisis Network Ireland

Support After Crime Services

Women’s Aid

Court Support Service

Advic

One in Four

Irish Tourist Assistance Service

CARI

AMEN

Federation for Victim Assistance

Blue Blindfold.gov.ie

Ruhama