Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to examine supports and experiences of victims of crime

The Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration will meet tomorrow, Tuesday April 28th, to discuss the supports and experiences of victims of crime.

The meeting will take place at 3pm in Committee Room 1 of Leinster House.

The following representatives are due to appear:
• Ms. Ruth Maxwell
• Accompaniment Support Services for Children
• Victim Support at Court
• AdVIC
• Dr. Liam O'Driscoll
• Crime Victims Helpline
• Ms. Niamh McGuinness

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Matt Carthy said: "Victims of crime must be at the centre of our justice system. In addition to hearing directly from victims of crime regarding their experiences in accessing supports, the Committee will also hear from frontline organisations about the adequacy of supports currently available to victims and the need for a more comprehensive, coordinated national approach to ensure that these are delivered in a victim centred manner and take account of the victims' vulnerabilities.

The Law Reform Commission (LRC) recently launched a report that proposes that the State's scheme for compensating victims of crimes of violence be placed on a statutory footing, which would include the establishment of a dedicated independent statutory body. Following the release of this report it is timely that the Committee will hear from Ruth Maxwell, a leading campaigner for reform in this area, who was violently attacked on her way to work in May 2016, sustaining severe life changing injuries while fighting off her attacker.

While helplines provide a useful service, they cannot replace in-person, individualised and ongoing supports for victims. We will also hear from Victim Support at Court (V-SAC) who will outline the services it provides to victims and witnesses attending court which completed its national expansion in 2024 and now provides services across the country, supporting thousands of victims and witnesses each year through its volunteer network.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss how gaps in provision can be addressed and how a more consistent and accessible system of supports for victims of crime can be developed."

Watch the meeting live on https://www.oireachtas.ie or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.