Call for supports for victims

Councillors are calling on the government to better fund psychological supports for victims of crime in a post-trial scenario.

Fine Gael’s TP O’Reilly led the call at a recent meeting of the local authority. He acknowledged there were provisions for persons during the trial but said, once it is over, “all supports finish”.

His motion, tabled at a specially convened meeting of the council, was seconded by party colleague Peter McVitty, and supported also by Winston Bennett (FG).

“We’ve seen it over the years. There’s everything for the criminal and nothing for the victim.”

Cllr Madeleine Argue (FG) said there was a significant need for additional supports for victims of crime and that at present “all you get is a letter saying they hope you’re ‘okay’. That’s all the psychological support they get.”

The motion wasalsosupported by Patricia Walsh and Sean Smith (FF), Carmel Brady (FG), and Paddy McDonald (SF) who remarked that victims of crime are often left “traumatised” by the experience, while the criminal gets to pay “€100 to St Vincent de Paul or community service”.