Victims of crime and the courts

Rules

• Support services available to victims of crime includes a Victim Support at Court service, which gives you the victim or witness to a crime support, encouragement and companionship of trained volunteers when you are attending court.
• The court can allow the use of video link for the giving of evidence by a victim if you live outside Ireland, if the proceedings relate to a sexual or violent offence, if you are under 18 years of age or if other exceptional circumstances are present.
• The court can allow you, if you wish, to give evidence about the effect (pdf) of a criminal offence on you through the use of victim impact statements.
• The Courts Service provides dedicated waiting rooms for you and your family in new and refurbished court buildings.
• In murder and manslaughter cases, reserved seating in the courtroom is available for the family of the deceased.