Witnesses
Information
In this section, you will find information about what it means to be a witness in a court case.
There is information on the different types of witness, who is competent to be a witness (i.e., who is capable of being a witness), procedures in place for witnesses under 18 years and who can be compelled to be a witness.
You will also find information about the procedure for witness service and how you are called to be a witness. It also covers when you may give evidence by video-link, whether you may refuse to answer a question, and what the rules are in relation to the evidence you can give.
Information on going to court as a witness is also available in a Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) booklet.
Language
Related Documents
- Hostile witness
A hostile witness is a witness who appears unwilling to tell the truth. Find out how a hostile witness is treated in court here. - The role of witnesses
A witness in Ireland is someone who has been called to give evidence in a court of law. What is the role of a witness in a case? - How you are called as a witness
This document describes the procedure for calling a person as a witness in a court case and explains entitlement to witness expenses.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.