V-SAC

Victim Support at Court

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Tel: 01 872 6785

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Testimonials

…every hug, kind word, knowing glance, cup of tea & biscuit has been so gratefully received by me from you all. You are a team of angels & I hope you realise how much  you do, you change lives every day. You helped me and cared for me & my family & friends so well. From my broken heart to yours, Thank You…

Name given to Manager

Very calm and understanding staff .put me at ease and felt like I could accomplish so much more with them with me.

Anonymous comments from V-SAC’s online survey

VSAC are an invaluable resource to persons attending court as injured parties. It is a huge reassurance to me as investigating Garda to know IP is being taken care of and supported while other tasks are carried out.

Anonymous comments from V-SAC’s online survey

The girls in V-SAC (I was with X and she was an absolute angel) made the entire experience so much more relaxed. It was a horrible ordeal and not something I will ever look on fondly, however V-SAC made it so much easier and allowed some happiness around the experience. Not only were they a complete reassurance for me, but for my family that was with me. I honestly cannot emphasise enough how much I appreciate all that the girls did.

Anonymous comments from V-SAC’s online survey

The staff and volunteers were extremely kind, helpful and supportive throughout my time at court. Providing a safe place to go for a cuppa and a chat helped us to feel more at ease and gave us some much needed privacy. The reserved seating in the courtroom for myself and my family gave us our own bit of space and that really helped to us get through such a difficult time. It’s a vital service that I would highly recommend.

Anonymous comments from V-SAC’s online survey

 

For every wonderful person at the Victim Support Unit…We cannot thank you enough for creating such a precious space of safety, warmth & comfort amidst the storm. I notice in life that many people who do things for others do so simply out of the goodness of their hearts; and they may not know the depth of the impact their actions have. I & my loved ones want you to know how much you have impacted us. Your tea, biscuits, kindness, thoughtfulness & chats have made this bearable for us. When so much is about this court case has brought us pain, you have consistently and relentlessly reminded us of the goodness in people. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Name given to Manager

I would like to take the opportunity to convey my appreciation on behalf of An Garda Siochana to ‘S’ and her staff at the Victim Support at Court Office who assisted at the trials of X and Y in the CCJ. ‘S’ and her team of volunteers are to be thanked for their co-operation and assistance which was valued by the investigation team and the Family Liaison Officer and I am sure I speak on behalf of the victims family also. Their contribution is all the more remarkable in that it was done on a voluntary basis and their dedication and professionalism are to be commended. These were sad situations and there were no winners. Thankfully the victims families have had some closure after the difficult and lengthy trials, seeing justice being done. Many thanks again and keep up the good work.

Name given to Manager

To all the wonderful people at VSAC, you made a very difficult time much easier for me. Your work is invaluable, and you are all saints!

Name supplied to the Manager

Thank you all for your support and hospitality over the last week. I really appreciate all your help. You’s all made a difference. I really appreciate it. Many thanks.

Name supplied to the Manager

A selection of some “Thank you” notes received in 2016:

‘To all the Victims Support Group – Thank you all so much for being there for us through a very dramatic time’

‘To each and everyone at V-SAC a huge thank you for all your support. Without you all we would never have got through this very hard time. The work you do to help us will never be forgotten’

‘Thank you all so much for providing a safe haven for us during our time at court. We really appreciate it. You are wonderful people who provide an invaluable service. Thanks again. We have made a €100 donation via the website.’

‘To all at Victim Support.  Thank you all for you support throughout our son trial’ (Note – the spelling is how it appears on the card)

To all at VSAC – Thank you so much for your kindness. We would have been lost without you!’

Various authors

I would like to take the opportunity to convey my appreciation on behalf of the Gardaí to ‘T’ of Victim Support who attended at the Trial in the CCJ. The brother of the victim attended court on each day of the 4 week trial and was accompanied by ‘T’ who performed his duty in a patient, kind and professional manner. ‘T’ is to be thanked for his co-operation and assistance which was valued by the investigation team and by the Family Liaison Officer in particular. His contribution is all the more remarkable in that it was done on a voluntary basis and his dedication and professionalism are to be commended. This was a sad situation and while there were not winners. Thankfully the victim’s family have had some closure after this difficult and lengthy trial seeing justice being done in a land many miles away from their native country. On behalf of the Gardaí (I am sure I speak on behalf of the victim’s family also) I would like to thank ‘T’ for his valuable assistance. I would like to take this opportunity to convey our appreciation to the other ‘unsung heroes’ like him and his colleagues who help to restore one’s faith in humanity. Many thanks again and keep up the good work.

Name and address supplied to the Manager

As the Superintendent in charge of the recent trial in the Central Criminal Court, I wish to sincerely thank you and all your staff for the great assistance and co-operation given to An Garda Síochána. The assistance given to the victim in this case was most beneficial and very reassuring for him and his family. On behalf of all members of the investigation team, I wish you and your staff well for the future.
Name and address supplied to the Manager
I would like to convey my thanks to Victim Support at Court for the help and assistance during a recent court case in the Central Criminal Court.  It definitely made my job as an accompanying member of An Garda Síochána easier as the victims and their family had never even been inside a court before and even just having a seperate family room in your offices was a great help.  The way that VSAC dealt with them and guided them along was amazing.  The service you provide is outstanding and I cannot recommend it enough.  Thanking you for you help and assistance.
Name an address supplied to Manager

I have had reason to attend the Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin 5 times over the last year as my case was protracted. I am a survivor of Clerical Sexual abuse and was very nervous at the prospect of my court appearance. I was told about victim support being available at the Court and asked if I could avail of the service. It was then I had the good fortune to meet “F”.  We had a tour of the courtroom and she explained everything I needed to know – even before I realised I needed to know it. On each trip she met us and took us to the support suite upstairs. This area is invaluable as it allows victims and their families some separation from the general feel of mayhem that surrounds the building. We warmed to “F” instantly, not just because of her nature but because of her genuine determination to ensure that my experience at court was going to be made easier. She always has a smile on her face and nothing is too much trouble. She offers everything from coffee to comfort confectionery to conversation and everything in between. She reads situations very well and is always more than aware of the families need for privacy if required. So this basically to thank her for making our experience in court a more bearable one and long may she and the good work you do, continue

Name and address supplied to Manager
I just wanted to let you know how invaluable the services that you offer were to us as a family. It was a great help to have a safe space to go to where we could avoid the hustle and bustle of what was and is the very busy Central Criminal Court. Being able to discuss what was happening over the more than three weeks of the case in a private space where we didn’t have to watch who was listening to us was invaluable as it helped us to take on board and sort out in our minds the various pieces of evidence that were being presented during the trial. it also provided us with the ability to let go of our emotions in a private space and not in public which meant so much. So was the ability to make tea etc. That the service can reserve space for the victims within the court itself is also invaluable as this meant that we didn’t have to ‘jockey’ for space and be constantly conscious of who was beside us and whether they were related to the defendant. Having access to information as to how the court functions eased the anxiety that we as a family felt by being in the what was for us the alien space that is a criminal court.
Name and address supplied to Manager
“V-SAC met with me prior to my court date and really prepared me for what to expect. For me, it made the entire process more comfortable and manageable. Excellent Service!”
Alan
“Having someone who is familiar with the courts and court procedures in a trial was a great help and gave my confidence a much needed boost going into court.”
Anne

Victim Support at Court, or V-SAC, is the only voluntary service in Ireland dedicated solely to court accompaniment for victims of crime, their families and witnesses. We are at the forefront of delivering a high quality court accompaniment service within the Irish judicial system.