Victims of crime and the courts
Information
If you have been the victim of crime, you may have contact with the courts system. You may be a witness at the trial of your case or you simply wish to attend and watch the trial.
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 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.
How to apply
You may also refer the matter to a Customer Complaints Officer within the Courts Service. Your complaint will then be investigated on your behalf. More information is available in Section 5 of the Victims Charter (pdf), published by the Irish Government. You can also learn more about your rights and entitlements as a victim of crime on the Victims Charter website.
Where to apply
Page edited:
5 February 2021