- I was a victim of crime
- Rights of victims of crime
- Right to access support
- Rights during the investigation
- Right to information
- Information about services
- Information about how to make a criminal complaint
- Right to information in a language you understand well
- Right to accessible information
- Right to information about the criminal justice system
- Information about your ability to give evidence or make submissions
- Right to receive information about the case
- Right to make a complaint about your rights
- Rights when making a complaint
- Right be interviewed by the police without delay
- Right to be interviewed as few times as possible
- Right to an interpreter or translator
- Right to have medical examinations only when strictly necessary
- Right to have your individual protection needs assessed
- Right to have your property returned without delay
- Right to be accompanied
- Right to report a crime that occurred in another EU country
- Right to information
- Rights after you make your complaint
- Right to acknowledgement of a complaint
- Right to receive a copy of your statement
- Right to be informed if the investigation is stopped
- Right to information if the case does not go to trial
- Right to request a summary of reasons not to prosecute
- Right to request a review of the decision not to prosecute
- Right to request a summary of the decision not to prosecute but to deal with accused in another way
- Right to be informed if the accused is not mentally fit to be tried
- Right to information about the trial
- How you can be protected
- Rights at the trial
- Right to interpretation
- Right to victim support at court
- Right to information in advance
- Right to participate
- Right to limit contact with the accused
- Rights when giving evidence at trial
- Possibility to answer questions through an intermediary
- Right not to be questioned directly by the accused
- Possibility to give evidence from behind a screen
- Right to free legal advice and aid
- Compensation
- Expenses
- Rights after the trial
- Rights at the sentencing stage
- Rights after the sentencing
- Counselling notes
- Criminal proceedings in Ireland
- What is a crime?
- Should I report the crime?
- Investigation of an offence
- Decision to prosecute
- Going to court
- Which court does the case go to?
- Initial Appearance
- Bail
- Arraignment (guilty or not guilty plea)
- Preliminary trial hearing
- The trial
- Who is who in court
- Can I use social media during a trial?
- Why does the accused not have to give evidence?
- Can i be protected in court?
- Tips for testifying in court
- Outcomes of a trial
- Sentencing stage
- Appeals
- After sentencing
- Restorative justice
- Who is who
Right to free legal advice and aid
You can sometimes get free legal advice and representation as a victim of crime but only for certain types of cases. For example, you are entitled to:
- Free legal advice if you were a victim of human trafficking.
- Free legal advice if you were a victim of rape or certain sexual offences.
- Free legal representation if you were a victim of rape or certain sexual assaults when the defence want to introduce evidence on, or cross-examine you in relation to, your sexual history. This means that there will be a barrister and solicitor in court who is there to represent you and your interests. This will be paid for by legal aid.
- Free legal representation if there is a hearing about your counselling notes in certain sexual offence trials. You have a right not to disclose your counselling notes. However, if they are relevant to the trial, they may be shown to the defence if you agree to it. If you do not agree to showing the defence your counselling records, the judge will hold a court hearing to decide whether they are relevant. If the judge finds that the notes are relevant, the relevant parts of the notes will be released to the defence.
You are entitled to be represented at this hearing through free legal aid.
For more information on legal aid see the Legal Aid Board’s website.