Govt to introduce rights for victims of crime in two years

The victims of crime are to be given special rights under Irish law.

The Justice Minister Alan Shatter said Ireland will adopt an EU directive which gives victims a legal right to be told why a criminal is not being prosecuted.

The EU rules do not automatically apply to Ireland, but Mr Shatter said he will be putting them into law anyway.

He said the new rights will be in place within two years.

Lobby groups are welcoming the news with the Victims' Rights Alliance saying victims of crime are regularly overlooked in the legal system.

It said that, while there are already some legal rights for the victims of crime, they are regularly not enforced.

Barrister Maria McDonald said families of people killed in road accidents are regularly forgotten about in the justice system.