- 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
Rights when giving evidence at trial
When giving your evidence, the judge can decide to let you give your evidence in a way that protects you. If you were the victim of a sexual or violent offence, certain domestic abuse offences or human trafficking, or child pornography the judge can decide to put special measures in place to keep you safe.
Right to anonymity
If you are the victim of rape or sexual assault, the court can forbid the publication of information to the public which might identify you. This means that your identity will be kept anonymous.
Possibility of having the courtroom cleared
The judge can ask the public to leave the courtroom, some of the public or any particular person from the courtroom during the trial. A judge has the power to remove everyone from the courtroom, apart from journalists and people who work for the court. However, your parent, relative or friend can stay in the courtroom, as can a victim support worker who is there to support you. If the accused is under 18 years old, their parent, relative, “appropriate adult” or friend can stay in the court too.
Questions about your sexual history
These questions can only be asked if the judge has agreed to allow them in advance. If these questions are allowed, you have the right to a free legal aid barrister and solicitor to be in court to represent you.
Possibility of not having questions about your private life asked
The judge can give instructions, which are known as “directions”, about what the defence can ask you about your private life. A judge can give these instructions if there is a concern that you might feel victimised all over again, intimidated, or you might suffer in another way, and they feel it is in the interests of justice. If these directions are given, then the defence cannot ask you any question about your private life that is unrelated or irrelevant to the crime.
Possibility to give evidence by video-link
You can give your evidence from a live video-link outside of the courtroom if the judge allows it. If you are under 18 you should always be allowed to give evidence by video-link unless the judge gives a good reason why you cannot.