Statement to Gardai

golden virginia

If a person makes a statement to the gardai - is it true that they are not entitled to a copy of their own statement.

I would really appreciate your opinion.

coylemj

Have you already made the statement? If so, what were the circumstances - were you considered a witness or a suspect when they took the statement?

golden virginia

i made a complaint to gardai about a persons actions. Was interviewed at station. The garda wrote it all down, read it back to me and i signed it.

charlemont

Your solicitor can get a copy, You are entitled to withdraw same statement too.

plasteritup

honestly dont know legally speaking,but i would imagine u are entitled to a copy as its your statement.

mcgarrett

Have you asked for a copy?

golden virginia

Thanks eveyone, i have asked for a copy.
I made my statement in last year.
I don't want to withdraw it.
i rang station and was told to write. i did that . the response

" Unfortunately, statements generated during the course of a criminal investigation are considered confidential and therefore cannot be disclosed." :eek:

MapForJ

Could a person write their own statement and bring it in?

Zambia

That sounds more like a statutory declaration to me. Which is a form of statement I suppose.

OP everything in the statement is from your own head so it would be far easier to just start writing down what you said to the Garda.

I don't know of any law that requires you get a copy. In most cases if you ask for a copy on the day it would be given as its not like the information on it is not known to you.

I don't know why some time after the fact someone would want a statement. Well I have an idea but that will just cause grief.

detective

charlemont wrote: »

Your solicitor can get a copy, You are entitled to withdraw same statement too.

No, they cannot.

detective

MapForJ wrote: »

Could a person write their own statement and bring it in?

Yes. But the police may have more questions.

MapForJ

detective wrote: »

Yes. But the police may have more questions.

could you provide written answers? then you would know exactly what you had said and that the garda did not make a mstake. reading back and signing in the station you could miss a small error a garda made and you would have signed it

Zambia

You can spend as long as you want reading it. Just be sure its correct.

R P McMurphy

Do they still write out the statements by hand? I had to give one once and I could not read it back so could not sign it there and then. I had to return at a later date to sign a typed version, he was not impressed

MapForJ

Zambia wrote: »

You can spend as long as you want reading it. Just be sure its correct.

i think one is under pressure in a station and not good time to be checking facts. After all the garda has plenty of time to go through it after it is signed

MagicSean

You can request a copy of your statement once criminal proceedings are complete. It won't be given before hand.

Zambia

MapForJ wrote: »

i think one is under pressure in a station and not good time to be checking facts. After all the garda has plenty of time to go through it after it is signed

How complex a statement have you been giving lately?

How much time would you need ?

golden virginia

Thanks all for your help.

As far as i know there are no criminal proceedings. I simply want a copy of the statement that I made, I was told I could have a copy if i request in writing. I did this and was refused. It seems strange to me. i would like to get a copy.

MagicSean

golden virginia wrote: »

Thanks all for your help.

As far as i know there are no criminal proceedings. I simply want a copy of the statement that I made, I was told I could have a copy if i request in writing. I did this and was refused. It seems strange to me. i would like to get a copy.

You will most likely need a reason.

golden virginia

I have a reason. its the statement I need.

MagicSean

golden virginia wrote: »

I have a reason. its the statement I need.

I've only ever seen them released for the purpose of civil cases.

golden virginia

No its not a civil case.

The gardai didnt go to the perpetrator with my statement but went instead to the manager of the institution where the incident occurred.

So I am being called to defend myself against this manager, who wasn't even there when the incident occured. The manager is making false allegations about what was in the statement, and trying to fire me over it.

When I get over defending myself from the manager, I suppose I could take a civil case because the perpetrator went on and did more to me over a period of time. I didn't go back to the gardai about these incidents because I didn't want them running back to the manager again.

I dont want to take a civil case but If I tell the gardai that i want to take a civil case will they give the statement to me then.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Explain that to the Gardai. If the incident that you made a statement over is under workplace investigation I believe that they should give you a copy of your statement.

They won't give you a copy just because but if you have a reason like a civil case or a workplace disciplinary hearing they should give it to you.

golden virginia

Thanks Ciaran for that information. Actually, the gardai do know this already. The problem is they told me I could have a copy and then refused to give it to me. Its all very strange, but thanks for your help.