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Pictured are, from left, President Mairead Fernane, Una O’Connell, Rachel Walsh, Sister Katherine Tierney, Frances Walshe from Kerry and Bernadette Harmon from Louth at the launch of the Federation for Victim Assistance’s freephone number 1 800 277477 today at Buswells Hotel, Dublin. PHOTO: Mark Stedman
AN Taoiseach Enda Kenny has launched a new service from the Federation for Victim Assistance, a group co-founded by a Tralee woman.
Former Tralee Town Councillor, Mairead Fernane, joint-president of the organisation, was in Dublin for the launch of the new confidential freephone number 1800 277 477 which has been established to provide free and easy access to Victim Assistance services for all victims of crime.
In the five years from 2011 to 2015, over 7,600 individual victims of crime, 37% of whom were victims of burglary, have reached out for help from the Federation for Victim Assistance.
Speaking at the launch at Buswells Hotel, Dublin, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: “I wish to commend the Federation for Victim Assistance launching this freephone number. It sends a clear message to victims around the country that there is someone at the other end of the line during what can be a traumatic and painful period for them. Earlier this week, the Tanaiste and Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, advised that additional funding of €250,000 is being made available to the Victims of Crime Office in 2017, bringing their total funding for 2017 to €1.71 million. The Victims of Crime Office is currently inviting applications for funding for 2017 for the provision of services or assistance to victims of crime, such as the freephone number launched today. This freephone number is about making improvements in service delivery to the victims of crime and I am sure the volunteers running the Federation’s services will bring some comfort to victims and strenghtening their resilience.”
The 9,540 contacts from Victim Assistance to victims in a five year period consist of visits, phone calls and letters to victims. These visits are always conducted by two of their members together.
The largest category of callers by crime type is burglary at 37% or 2748 individuals with assistance also provided to 475 victims of Assault (6.25%), 360 victims of Robbery, including Armed Robbery (4.5%) and 27% of the victims dealt with fall into a general enquiry/other category.
This category includes requests for information on the workings of the Courts, Victim Impact Statements, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), An Garda Síochána, Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and other facets of the Criminal Justice system.
Anyone who needs to call the new freephone number 1800 277 477 will be invited to leave their name, telephone number, county they are ringing from and the best time to make contact.
They will receive a call back from one of the experienced local co-ordinators who will listen to the victim’s story and together, they can decide an appropriate course of action which may vary from case to case and from person to person.
“A number of factors including the severity of the crime, the victim’s ability to cope and the support systems available may determine the appropriate course of action, while all times the Victim retains control over how their case progresses,” said Michael Bennett, Chairperson of Victim Assistance.
For more information about Victim Assistance, contact FEDVA@eircom.net, phone 066 7119830 or contact the new FREEPHONE number 1800 277 477.
