DPP staff boosted to fulfil victims’ rights

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

The development has been welcomed by victims rights’ groups, as the November 15 date for the implementation of the EU Victims’ Directive approaches.

But the Victims’ Rights Alliance said it still had “major concerns” that frontline gardaí will not be trained and resourced to meet extensive new obligations in relation to the provision of information and services to victims of crime.

The directive is being implemented by domestic legislation and, last July, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald published the Heads of Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill. The DPP has told the Irish Examiner that five additional staff had been sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform “to deal with work arising from the implementation of the EU Victims’ Directive”.

A spokeswoman said: “The staff sanction was for one lawyer at principal-officer, higher scale, one lawyer at assistant-principal, higher scale, one higher executive officer, one executive officer and one clerical officer.” Maria McDonald, of the VRA, said: “It’s a very welcome move: the DPP, in particular, is going to be required, on request, to provide reasons to victims, including reasons not to prosecute. That will create a significant amount of work.” The bill also gives the victims a right to request a review of decisions by the DPP not to prosecute a suspect.

Ms McDonald said: “It would have been great to see more staff being appointed to the DPP, as they also have other obligations.” She said these included new provisions in the bill, including testimonial aids, and rights to give evidence by video link, through an intermediary or from behind screens.

Ms McDonald said this would be when witnesses are vulnerable, or are children, or have special needs. “The difficulties, as far as the VRA is concerned, is intermediaries have never been used before. We will need a panel of trained intermediaries. The DPP will need to develop guidelines on this.” But Ms McDonald said she was more worried about whether or not the gardaí were prepared. “I am more concerned about staffing, resources and training required within the Gardai than I am about the DPP,” she said.

The Garda Press Office said the intention was to have a minimum of two staff — one garda and one civilian — in each of the 28 new Victims’ Services Offices throughout the country.

A spokesman said the offices will be the “central point of contact for victims of crime and trauma” and will provide advice, information and support to victims.

In the bill, gardaí must provide detailed information to a victim and conduct an assessment of the victim regarding any measures for their protection and give the necessary advice.

Gardaí are also obliged to provide ongoing information on “significant developments” in the investigation, as well as information on the trial, any appeal or the release of a person from custody. There are also measures for certain victims, including where there is a sexual offence or domestic violence offence or where the victim is a child.

“There might be a need for more gardaí on one case, unless the garda is trained-up incredibly,” Ms McDonald said.

“But, really, it’s the gardaí on the ground that are dealing with victims,” she said.