Certain victims should be entitled to special Garda measures — such as specially trained interviewers — as a legal right and not at the discretion of the gardaí, the State’s human rights ombudsman has said.

The Director of Public Prosecutions is getting five additional staff — including two lawyers — to meet its obligations to victims under imminent new laws.

The new Policing Authority must have the power to investigate complaints from victims of crime as the Garda Ombudsman is “not fit for purpose”, an alliance of victims’ groups has said.

An umbrella group of victims’ organisations has warned Ireland is to breach this November’s deadline for full implementation of an EU directive on the rights of victims of crime.