Help

Green Gooner

Just a bit of advice wanted guys on the following issue.

I was out last St Patricks Day. Me and my friend left my home at around 5 or so and had a few drinks in a pub in a nearby town.

Around 7 we decided to leave the pub we were drinking in to watch a Football match in a pub which is one minute away from the one in which we were drinking. At this stage as I'm about to leave the first pub, I would have classed myself as tipsy.

As we left 'pub 1' and crossed the road to the same side as 'pub 2', we were approached by a group of fella's begging for money for alcohol. Stupidly I replied ''do I have charity case written on my forehead''. However I did apologise and shook hands whilst wishing the fella a Happy St Patricks Day. My friend gave them money. That is the last I remember as BANG!

My friend told me the guy headbutted me and I immediately hit the ground...all I can remember is getting kicked in the back and getting kicked in the face which strangely brought me round.

I got up dazzed and the guys were running away. Me and my friend approached nearby Gardai to get them but they refused to! Even though they told us they knew them! And one if the Guards refused to give us his badge number!

For the record, this was the main thoroughfare in a rather big town.

We were left fend for ourselves and I went to A&E were I have a scan on my face. Luckily I hadnt broken anything, although badly bruised and a broken tooth but the psychological damage was already done.

I was distraught when I got home and my relatives rang the the local guards in my home town and the gurards in the town in which I was in. The guards from my hometown came to my house and looked at my face and told me to call the next day to make a statement.

NEXT DAY

The next day I went to my local Garda station but it was closed so we had to go to the local main Garda division baracks were I made a statement and photo's were taken of my face and arms.

I also attendended my GP.

At this point, I should mention, I suffer from quite bad OCD and depression which hit a new low after this.

THE FOLLOWING DAYS AND WEEKS

After I heard nothing I rang the Gardai in the town in which the attack happened to which they were as ignorant as hell over the phone. I wont lie, absolutely nothing was happening. They wanted me to ring a specific guard (who was dealing with the case) at late hours etc and I didnt think that was good enough. So I rang the Garda Ombudsman and got a form off them which I didnt then send back in case it compromised a possible case on me.

THE FOLLOWING FEW MONTHS

At this stage, I'm getting more depressed and losing the will to get the culprits. I think I sent a letter to the Superintendent.

Then I got a number of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal and I rang and talked to them, they were caring and excellent. They put the pressure on and the guards wanted to meet me around June.

It turns out when I give my initial statement mysteriously didnt get to the APPROPRIATE GARDA STATION! However I did get a compensation application and sent in June also

THEN IN DECEMBER
I got a reply from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal saying thay would be talking to the Gardai but I've heard notthing since!

SO WERE DOES THIS LEAVE THE CASE NOW?

I had just graduated in March and this attack has really destroyed me. I appreaciate people have suffer a lot more but I was already suffering from OCD and Depression and this has knocked my for six.

I have kinda completely lost the will to do anymore about this case, is there any point?

Thank you for taking the time to read and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Victor

Do you have anyone to advocate for you, perhaps a solicitor or someone else detached form the situation?

Tom Young

Sorry OP. We have a charter here and legal advice is not available. I suggest that you are dealing with the matter in the correct fashion.

Tom