Following on an EU Directive the Government will pass the Victims of Crime Bill on the 16th November 2015. In essence once a victim of crime makes contact with the Gardaí the Act requires the Gardaí to give information about victim support services to the victim and is obliged to refer the victim to such support services, if asked.
If the victim of crime is particularly vulnerable special protection measures are in place e.g. to give evidence in Court from behind a screen or through an intermediary.
The State will likewise be obliged to keep the victim updated with information about the case and if the case is dropped against the perpetrator to explain why and gives the victim a right to review such decision, where the DPP decides not to prosecute.
Likewise once somebody is sent to prison the victim is obliged to be informed of the release date or if for example the prison escapes.
An interesting article appears on the Irish Times Law Matters on the 30th October 2015 by Conor Gallagher in relation to same and the Bill (which becomes an Act on the 16th November 2015) can be downloaded from the Government website:
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Criminal_Justice_(Victims_of_Crime)_Bill
The full title of the Bill is the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2015.
