In 2019, Victim Support at Court (V-SAC) provided free and confidential support to 1,482 victims of crime, prosecution witnesses and their family/friends, an increase of 8% compared to 2018. This was mainly due to its recent expansion into the Eastern and South Eastern Circuit Courts. Countrywide support was provided for 629 trials/hearings, including pre-trial visits, sentencing, retrials and appeals, involving offences such as murder, manslaughter, death by dangerous driving, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence and assault, among others. V-SAC’s 50+ trained volunteers gave 1,418 days of their own time to support victims of all types of crime. V-SAC staff and volunteers had 5,435 individual contacts with the victims, their friends and families and prosecution witnesses.

 

 

V-SAC featured in a number of papers recently. The articles highlighted V-SAC’s free service available to victims of crime, prosecution witnesses and their family and friends while they attend court. V-SAC are expanding into the Eastern and Southeastern Circuit Courts. Click on the links below for the full newspaper articles and radio interviews given.

 

https://www.nationalist.ie/news/home/328962/victim-support-group-is-expanding-its-services-to-courts-in-the-south-east.html

https://www.irishlegal.com/article/victim-support-charity-expanding-court-accompaniment-services

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/court-help-for-victims-of-crime-expanded-861484.html

https://www.tipperarystar.ie/news/home/329017/victim-support-group-expanding-its-south-east-services.html

https://kclr96fm.com/volunteers-sought-carlow-kilkenny-accompany-victims-court/

https://www.newsgroup.ie/volunteers-sought-to-support-victims-of-crime/