Ms Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop:

During the crime forum we brought that particular issue to the attention of the Garda. The committee will be aware from the Garda Inspectorate report that many cases involving sexual violence, in respect of which there was plenty of evidence that a crime had been committed, were downgraded such that the record indicated no crime had been committed. The directive has to be applied across the country from Donegal to Dingle, from Galway to Dublin and everywhere in between. It was stated that gardaí do not have a checklist but they need to have one. They must know what they are required to do and how important it is that the victim be retained in the system and given all necessary information. Victims do not know what to ask for. Gardaí must provide the relevant information to the victim, whether that person is a victim of sexual crime, burglary or whatever.