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Making an Initial Report
Making an Initial Report
Information for Victims of Crime
What happens when I make a Crime Report – Investigation Process
Appearing in Court and the Court Process
Post Sentencing and Coroner Service
Making an Initial Report
Making an Initial Report
If you are a victim or a witness to a crime you should report this to An
Garda Síochána. You can do this by the following methods:
Call 999/112
Call 999 or 112 in the case of an emergency. An emergency is any
incident which requires an immediate Garda response. Examples of
emergencies are:
· A danger to life
· Risk of serious injury
· Crime in progress or about to happen
· Offender still at scene or has just left
What happens when I call 112 or 999?
Remember when calling 112 (or 999), ‘stay calm, stay focused and stay
on the line’.
When you call 112 or 999, please clearly state the emergency service you
require. You may be required to give details such as your name, location
and telephone number.
Call your local Garda Station or report in person
In all other circumstances when reporting a crime you should contact your
local Garda Station in person or by telephone. Contact details of your
local Garda Station should be readily to hand in both your home and place
of work, and on speed dial on your home and mobile phones. Details of all
Garda Stations are available on Garda Station
Other means of reporting crime includes the use of:
· Online Declaration which is only to be used for declaring the theft of
property not exceeding the value of €500 in the republic of Ireland .
CLICK LINK
NOTE: DO NOT USE THIS ONLINE DECLARATION IF:
o The incident is happening now
o An offender is still at the scene or nearby
o Evidence has been left at the scene
For a theft of property exceeding the value of €500 and all other incidents
please contact your local Garda Station.

The Garda Traffic Watch hotline allows
members of the public to report incidents of
dangerous driving to An Garda Síochána so
that the drivers can be intercepted, cautioned
and if required brought through the courts
process. The Garda Traffic Watch hotline is
contactable by telephone at 1890 205 805.
CLICK LINK
Other means of providing information to An Garda Síochána
· Ring the Garda Confidential Telephone Number 1800 666 111.
· Ring Crimestoppers using the confidential free phone number 1800 250
025.
· If you have information on drug dealing activity in your community you
can telephone Freephone 1800 220 220. You will be put through to a
trained operator who will ask you for your information and nothing more.
The information gathered is passed on directly to the Garda National
Drugs Unit CLICK
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Garda Confidential No.: 1 800 666 111
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About Us
What happens when I make a report - Investigation Process
What happens when I make a report - Investigation
Process
Information for Victims of Crime
Making an initial report
Appearing in Court and the Court Process
Post Sentencing and Coroner Service
What happens when I make a Crime Report – Investigation
Process
Whenever you report a crime to An Garda Síochána, whether you are a
victim or a witness, we will ask you to:

Provide as much information as you can
about the offence;

Tell us if you have any concerns about your
(or your family’s) safety, so we can give you
appropriate advice;

Provide your full address and telephone
contact details. This will allow us to update
you with the progress of the investigation;

Update us with any other changes - you may
have noticed further losses or damage since
you first reported the offence, or you may be
suffering further effects from an injury
caused by the crime.
The investigating Garda will ask you to make a statement which s/he will
write down and get you to sign. The matter will then be investigated by
the Garda. If you are the victim of the crime you should subsequently
receive a letter in the mail from the Garda Superintendent giving you the
name of the investigating Garda, the PULSE (computer) number of the
crime, the telephone number of the Garda Station, and the number of
Crime Victims Helpline.
After reporting the crime your case will be investigated, regardless of your
gender, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, economic
circumstances or membership of any minority group.
During the Investigation
During the investigation stage, Gardaí will gather all available evidence,
such as CCTV, fingerprints or DNA and a file will be prepared in serious
cases and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
If a suspect is due to appear in court, we will:

Tell you whether the accused is in custody or
on bail and the conditions attached to the
bail;

Tell you the time, date and location of the
court hearings;

Explain the prosecution process involved;

Tell you if you are likely to be called as a
witness and if so tell you about the help
available from victim support organisations;

Tell you when a judge may ask for a "victim
impact statement";

Tell you about court expenses;

Tell you the final outcome of the trial.
Please remember to inform Gardaí if your contact details change, quoting
your PULSE incident number, so that we can keep you up to date with any
developments.
Gardaí are committed to addressing your needs and concerns in an
understanding and problem-solving manner. The following sections
contain information that may assist you with any queries or assistance
you may request.
The Garda Charter ‘Working with our Communities’
The Garda Charter ‘Working with our Communities’ outlines 10 areas
where An Garda Síochána is committed to working with the community to
deliver a professional service. The 10 areas are:
1. Our Values – Honesty, Accountability, Respect and Professionalism
2. Keeping Victims Updated
3. Arrange Public Meetings
4. Local Priorities
5. 999 Call Answering
6. Response Times
7. Community Policing
8. Visibility
9. Diverse Communities
10. Customer Satisfaction
To view The Garda Charter in full please CLICK HERE
An Garda Síochána’s Victims Charter
An Garda Síochána’s Victims Charter outlines what you as a victim can
expect once you report a crime. An Garda Síochána will:

Respond promptly to your call and
investigate your complaint;

Tell you the name, telephone number and
station of the investigating officer and PULSE
incident number;

Explain what will happen during the
investigation and keep you informed
throughout the process;

Tell you about the services available through
the National Crime Victims Helpline 1850 211
407;

Advise you about the services provided by
the Tourist Victim Support Service if you are
a visitor to Ireland;

Exhibit special sensitivity in relation to sexual
offences;

Make the services of a Garda and a Doctor of
the same gender (as far as possible)
available to you;

Endeavour to attend to any special needs or
requirements you may have;

Provide a free translation service if you are
unable to communicate fluently in Irish or
English.
To view An Garda Síochána’s Victims Charter in full, please CLICK HERE
Victims Support Services
There is a range of dedicated victim support organisations available to
support victims and their families after they become a victim of crime.
These organisations offer support to both victims of general crimes and
victims of specific crimes such as homicide, domestic violence and sexual
assault.
The Crime Victims Helpline can advise you about the services available
nationally and locally. The full list of victim support organisations is
available on the Victim area of this website and also by CLICKING HERE.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal runs the compensation
scheme for personal injuries that you may have suffered due to a crime.
The Minister for Justice and Equality appoints the members of the
Tribunal.
The compensation scheme for personal injuries suffered due to a crime
allows you to seek payment for expenses and losses that you may suffer
as a direct result of a violent crime, or in trying to prevent a crime or in
saving someone’s life. The scheme also allows for the family of a victim
who has died due to a violent crime to receive a payment.
How it works:

One member of the Tribunal normally decides
on each compensation case;

If you are unhappy with their decision, you
can appeal it to members of the Tribunal,
who will not include the member who made
the original decision;

They will hold the appeal hearing in private
and in an informal manner – you will not
need legal representation;

The Tribunal will not pay any legal costs you
may have due to the Tribunal hearing;

They will pay the compensation in a lump
sum, although in some cases they will allow
for an interim payment.
The EU Directive on Compensation to Crime Victims sets up cooperation
between EU member states so that victims can get compensation for
crimes committed in another member state. They process claims from
other member states. They also help people living in Ireland to send
claims to other member states.
Court orders
A court may order an offender to pay compensation to a victim as part of
a criminal case. The Probation Service will oversee the payment of money
under a compensation order, when the court asks it to do so.
A victim may take a civil case for compensation against an offender. It is
up to the victim and their legal team to take this case. When making an
award, the Tribunal has to deduct any money paid to the victim by the
offender.
For further information you can contact:
The Chairman
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal
!3 Lower Hatch Street
Dublin 2
Telephone: (01) 6610604
Fax: (01) 6610598
Email: criminalinjuries@justice.ie
Appearing in Court and the Court Process
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HomeAppearing in Court and the Court Process
Appearing in Court and the Court Process
Information for Victims of Crime
Making an initial report
What happens when I make a Crime Report – Investigation Process
Post Sentencing and Coroner Service
Appearing in Court and the Court Process
Director of Public Prosecutions
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is the agency responsible for the
prosecution of crime in Ireland. During the course of an investigation of a
serious crime, An Garda Síochána will investigate it and send a file to the
Office of the DPP. The DPP will then read this file to see whether there is
enough evidence to prosecute someone for the crime and what the charge
should be.
Who decides whether to prosecute?
The decision to prosecute is a serious one – it can have a lasting effect on
both the victim of the crime and the accused person. Only the DPP or one
of his/her lawyers may decide whether to prosecute in serious cases – for
example, murder, sexual offences or fatal road accidents.
An Garda Síochána may decide to prosecute in less serious crimes.
However, the prosecution is still taken in the name of the DPP and the
DPP has the right to tell An Garda Síochána how to deal with the case.
The DPP acts independently when deciding whether to prosecute. This
means that no other person, or body, including the Government, can tell
the DPP whether or not to prosecute a case.
Where the DPP directs No Prosecution
If the DPP decides not to prosecute, reasons will be provided only to the
Gardaí who investigated the case. However, whenever possible, they will
give reasons in fatal cases to a member of the victim’s family or
household on request. The DPP will provide this information in cases
where the death took place on or after 22 October 2008.
Prosecuting offences in court
The investigating Gardaí will tell you whether the DPP has decided to
prosecute and, if so, when and where the court case will take place.
The most serious cases are heard in the:

Central Criminal Court;

Circuit Criminal Court;

Special Criminal Court.
In these cases, a barrister acting for the DPP will prosecute the case in
court.
Less serious cases are heard in the District Court. In these cases either
the investigating Gardaí or a lawyer acting for the DPP will prosecute the
case in court.
What the DPP can do for victims and witnesses
If you are a victim you can ask the DPP to:

Take your views into account when he/she is
deciding whether to prosecute;

Look again at a decision he/she has made
with which you do not agree.
If a member of your family or household is the victim in a fatal case, you
can request the DPP to inform you whenever possible of the reason for
not proceeding with a prosecution.
If you are a witness, the DPP will:



Treat you with respect and take account of your personal
situation, rights and dignity;
Work with An Garda Síochána to make sure that you are
kept up to date on your case, especially if it is about a
violent or sexual offence;
Arrange for you to talk to the prosecution solicitor and
barrister before the court case begins, if you wish. They
will explain what will happen in court, but they cannot
talk to you about the evidence you will give.
If the accused has been sentenced, the DPP can:

Ask the Court of Criminal Appeal to review the sentence
if he/she thinks it is unduly lenient – in other words, so
light that it is wrong in law. The DPP can ask for a
review of sentences from the Central Criminal Court,
Circuit Criminal Court and Special Criminal Court. The
DPP cannot appeal a sentence from the District Court.
Further information on reporting a crime and court procedures is available on the Director of
Public Prosecutions (DPP) website or by contacting:
Director of Public Prosecutions
14-16 Merrion Street
Dublin 2
Telephone: (01) 6789222
Fax: (01) 6610915
Email:
Website: www.dppireland.ie
Probation Service
The Probation Service is an agency within the Department of Justice and Equality. Probation
officers work with offenders across the country, as well as in prisons and detention centres, to
make communities safer. This is done by helping offenders to lead better lives, remain free
from crime and to take cognisance of the harm caused to victims.
The role of the probation officer is to:




Provide a service to courts, including supervising
offenders in the community;
Prepare reports on individual offenders, which include
the impact of the crime or offence on the victim(s)
Organise a family conference for a young offender, if it is
ordered in court;
Put into practice programmes that aim to address
offending behaviour and reduce victimisation.
Probation officers take into account the victim’s feelings and trauma when carrying out their
work.
If you are a victim, probation officers:

Will prepare a victim impact report with you,
when requested by the courts;

May invite you to take part in a family
conference for a young offender and support
you in this process;

Will explain the meaning of the different
orders that they operate for the court, if you
ask them to do so. They will do this by
phone, in writing or face-to-face, depending
on the circumstances.
Post Sentencing and Coroner Service
Post Sentencing and Coroner Service
Irish Prison Service
If your case has gone to court and someone has received a prison
sentence in relation to the case, the Irish Prison Service will provide
assistance to victims of crime.
When victims of crime request it, the Prison Service Victim Liaison Officer
will enter into direct contact with them to inform them of any significant
development in the management of the perpetrator's sentence as well as
any impending release. Such significant developments could include
temporary releases, parole board hearings, prison transfers and expected
release dates.
If you wish to avail of the Irish Prison Service Victim Liaison Service, the
contact details are as follows:
Victim Liaison Officer
Irish Prison Service Headquarters
IDA Business Park
Ballinalee Road
Longford
Telephone: (043) 33 35100
Email: vlo@irishprisons.ie
Website: www.irishprisons.ie
Coroner Service
The Coroner Service is a network of coroners located throughout the
country.
The core function of a coroner is to investigate sudden and unexplained
deaths so that a death certificate can be issued. This is an important
public service to the next-of-kin and friends of the deceased.
The purpose of the inquest is:
· To establish the facts surrounding the death;
· To place those facts on the public record;
· To make findings on (a) the identification of the deceased (b) the date
and place of death and (c) the cause of death.
While the coroner or jury may make a general recommendation designed
to prevent similar deaths, they do not decide who was at fault or whether
there was a criminal offence.
The Coroner Service not only provides closure for those bereaved
suddenly, but also performs a wider public service by identifying matters
of public interest that can have life or death consequences.
Coroners appreciate that the procedures involved in their inquiries,
though necessary, may involve upset and trauma for the next-of-kin and
friends. Coroners will carry out their work as sensitively as possible and
with respect for the deceased, next-of-kin and friends.
In some deaths, inquests are legally required. An inquest may be opened
during an investigation but it cannot be concluded until after a court case
is concluded or there is a decision made not to prosecute.
In other cases, the holding of an inquest is at the discretion of the coroner
and the next-of-kin can make their views known to the coroner, if they so
wish. An inquest is an inquiry held in public by a coroner, sometimes with
a jury.
Where an inquest is held with a jury, it is the jury-members (not the
coroner) who return the findings and verdict together with any rider or
recommendation.
Most deaths reported to coroners do not require an inquest.
The coroner is independent in carrying out his or her duties. A review of
the coroner’s decisions can only be made under the law. For example, a
person can appeal to the High Court through a Judicial Review application.
Further information in relation to the overall service provided is available
from the relevant coroner's office. Coroners are organised by district,
usually according to the local authority. Names, addresses, telephone
numbers and e-mail addresses (where applicable) can be found in the
Contacts section of this site or www.justice.ie. You can also make
enquires to:
Coroner Service Implementation Team
Athlumney House
IDA Business Park
Johnstown
Navan
Co Meath
Telephone: (046) 9091323
Fax: (046) 9050560
Email: csitmail@justice.ie
Website: www.coroners.ie