FINE GAEL has launched a new online survey which aims to chart the experiences of victims of crime within the criminal justice system.
Among the questions covered by the survey are whether victims and their families were kept informed during the criminal process and whether the Director of Public Prosecutions should tell victims and their families why he is not proceeding with a prosecution.
It is accessible via the party’s website, www.finegael.ie, where prospective participants are greeted with a picture of two youths attempting to break into a car.
Fine Gael says the new survey forms part of its ongoing campaign to improve the rights of victims of crime. It comes as the party prepares to debate a new Victims Rights Bill in the Dáil later this month. If passed, this would include an automatic right for victims or their families to provide a victim impact statement in court.
According to Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter, there is a widespread view that criminals have more rights than their victims.
