Help For Victims
What to do if you are a victim of crime
You can report the crime to your local Garda Station or in an emergency by telephoning 999 or 112.
The Crime Victims Helpline can provide you with information about specialist support services in your area for victims of crime. You can contact the Helpline at Freephone: 116 006, by text: 085-1337711 or e-mail: info@crimevictimshelpline.ie
If you are the victim of a sexual assault, there is a 24 hour National Helpline: 1800 778888 run by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. Local Rape Crisis Centres are listed on the Rape Crisis Network website. Their phone number is: 091-563676.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, there is a National Helpline: 1800 341900 run by Women's Aid. Details of local domestic violence support services and information that may be helpful to you are available on the Safe Ireland website. Their phone number is 090 6479078, email: info@safeireland.ie
If you are a male victim of domestic violence you can contact the Male Advice Line on 1800 816 588. They are open from 10am to 6pm Monday and Wednesday, 12pm -8pm, Tuesday and Thursday and 2pm to 6pm on a Friday. There is also a confidential helpline run by Amen : 046 9023718 which is open Monday to Friday , 9am to 5pm .
If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, you can also visit the Cosc website where you will find a list of local and national services and advice on what to do.
If you are a tourist and you are a victim of crime you can contact the Irish Tourist Assistance Service (ITAS) who offer support and assistance to tourist victims of crime. Telephone: 1890 635 700 or e-mail: info@itas.ie
The Victims Charter and Guide to the Criminal Justice System describes the criminal justice system from a victim’s point of view and sets out your rights and entitlements to the services given by the various state agencies working with crime victims. The Charter has been translated into the following languages: Irish, Chinese, French, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish and Spanish.
The following is a list of National organisations that provide support for victims of crime :
| Service | Description | Phone | Website | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AdVIC (Advocates for Victims of Homicide) | Campaigns for greater rights for victims of homicide, their families and friends and brings together families bereaved by homicide including those affected by murder, manslaughter and fatal assault. Provides access to free professional counselling. | 086 127 2156 | www.advic.ie | |
| Amen | Provides court accompaniment services, a confidential helpline, support services and information for men who have or are experiencing domestic violence | (046) 902 3718; | www.amen.ie | Mon-Fri 9am-5pm |
| Barnardos | Barnardos work with vulnerable children and their families in Ireland and campaign for rights of all children | (01) 453 0355 (021) 431 0591 Callsave 1850 222 300 |
www.barnardos.ie | Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm |
| CARI | Provides court accompaniment services and therapy for children and adolescents affected by the issue of sexual abuse and support for the non-abusing family member-carers. Also provides a helpline. | Helpline:1890 924 567 | www.cari.ie | Mon-Fri 9:30am - 5:30pm |
| Crime Victims Helpline | A national helpline which is there to listen, inform and where relevant, to refer people to support services in their local area for victims of crime | Freephone 116006 | www.crimevictimshelpline.ie | Mon 10am-7.30pm, Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 2pm-4pm |
| Dignity 4 Patients | Dignity 4 Patients is a patient support and advocacy organisation. Dignity 4 Patients work with people who have suffered sexual assault or inappropriate sexual behaviour whilst a patient in a medical or therapeutic setting. | 041 9845761 086 1654111 086 8920300 |
www.dignity4patients.org | |
| Dublin Rape Crisis Centre | A national organisation offering a wide range of services to women and men who are affected by rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment or childhood sexual abuse. The services include a national 24-hour helpline, one to one counselling, court accompaniment, outreach services, training, awareness raising and lobbying. | Helpline: 1800 77 88 88 | www.drcc.ie/ | 24-hour telephone helpline |
| Federation for Victim Assistance | Fully trained volunteers offering emotional and practical assistance to all victims of crime and those that may have experienced a traumatic incident. |
National Freephone number: 1800 277 477. Office number: 094 9000251 |
9.30am-1.30pm | |
| Irish Tourist Assistance Service | Provides a free nationwide service offering support and assistance to tourists who are victims of crime while visiting Ireland. | 1890 365 700 (01) 6610562 |
www.itas.ie | Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm. Sun & Bank Hols: 12pm - 6pm |
| Le Cheile | Restorative Justice services | 01-2144350 | www.lecheile.ie | |
| Missing Persons Helpline | Primarily aims to support families and individuals who have a relative, colleague or friend who is missing. | 1890 442 552 | www.missingpersons.ie | Mon - Fri: 2.30pm - 6.30pm |
| One in Four | One in Four offers a voice to and support for women and men who have experienced sexual abuse and/or sexual violence and also to their families and friends. Support is provided directly through individual psychotherapy, group therapy, advocacy/support, and 24 hour support on our online message boards. | (01) 662 4070 | www.oneinfour.org | Mon - Fri: 9:30am - 9:30pm |
| Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) | The national network of rape crisis centres. Their website includes details of rape crisis centres around the country. Among the services available is court accompaniment. | Galway: (091) 563 676. Dublin Rape Crisis Helpline 1800 778 888 | www.rcni.ie | Mon - Fri: 9.30am - 5pm |
| Support After Homicide | Provides emotional support and practical information to people whose lives have been affected by homicide. | 087 983 7322 | www.supportafterhomicide.ie | Seven days a week |
| Victim Support At Court | Provides support both before and during court proceedings. Volunteers are trained to support prosecution witnesses and their families who have been called to court to give evidence. | Tel: (01) 872 8765 or Mobile: 087 288 5521 | www.vsac.ie | Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm |
| Women's Aid Dublin | Provides a National Freephone Helpline and the support services team offers a one-to-one information and support service, as well as a court accompaniment service, providing advocacy and support to the particular needs of the woman seeking legal redress. We also have an interpeter service available covering 170 languages. | 1800 341 900 | www.womensaid.ie | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
