Crime victims ‘pay twice’

VICTIMS of crime are being victimised a second time by the criminal justice system, according to a report.

The survey found gardaí were failing to provide many victims with “basic information” and that victims of domestic, sexual and homophobic violence surveyed said gardaí were insensitive when taking statements.

The report also found a majority of 300 victims surveyed were dissatisfied with the court system. It said they faced repeat victimisation as a result of bad communication, delays, poor seating arrangements and lack of sensitivity by court staff.

A fifth of respondents said they did not report the crime to the Gardaí.

The research, carried out by the Government-appointed Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime, said victims’ concerns about intimidation and further harassment “should be taken seriously”.

Nearly four out of 10 respondents were unhappy with the Director of Public Prosecutions, while nearly half said they were dissatisfied about their experience of being a witness in court.

“One continuous thread emerging... is the need for the criminal justice system to prevent, as far as possible, the risk of repeat victimisation of victims,” said the report, Needs and Concerns of Victims of Crime in Ireland. It was conducted by researchers from UCC, led by Dr Shane Kilcommins and published yesterday by Justice Minister Dermot Ahern. It found:

* Half of victims said they did not receive a Pulse incident number for their crime and the same number said they did not get a contact for a victim support group.

* Four in 10 respondents were dissatisfied with the information provided by gardaí during the investigation.