Crime victims left in dark

HUNDREDS of crime victims have revealed how they were left in the dark by not being told about the progress of an investigation or not being contacted at all by gardaí after making an initial complaint.

Half of all victims responding to the most comprehensive attitudes survey ever compiled about the Garda said they were not kept informed about the progress of a case, while a similar number were not contacted at all.

The survey of more than 10,000 people revealed nearly 90% were satisfied with the job gardaí are doing, a rating welcomed by Garda HQ, the Justice Minister, representative bodies and a leading victims' group.