Gardaí: Assisting a tourist

The services provided by Tourist SOS are free. You do not need to pay for any support or practical assistance that you receive from us.

Tourist SOS provides a confidential service. We will only discuss or pass on details of your situation with your consent.

For example, if you require an Emergency Travel Document from your embassy, we will not contact the embassy on your behalf unless you are happy for us to do so.

Tourist SOS is a national service. We assist tourists no matter where in Ireland the crime has occurred. Face-to face support is available in Dublin, where our staff are based, and for the rest of the country we offer information and support over the phone or by email.

If a journey to Dublin is required to visit your embassy or for any other purpose, we can organise this. We will keep in contact with you until you are happy that all issues in so far as possible, are resolved.

There are certain supports which regrettably we are unable to provide. We cannot:

• Give Cash
• Replace lost/stolen items
• Offer emergency long-term support
• Give legal advice
• Get involved in third party disputes

Primary funding is provided by the Department of Justice of Ireland, Fáilte Ireland (National Tourism Development Authority) and Dublin City Council. We also receive both financial and in-kind donations from a wide range of organisations in the tourism and hospitality industry.

You will not be able to replace your driver’s licence in Ireland. This can only be done on your return home. If you had intended to hire a car, please contact us as we may be able to assist. If you have already hired a car, then the car hire company will have a copy of your licence but it would be advisable to keep a copy of the garda report in the car in case you are stopped by the Gardaí.

If you are injured as a result of a violent crime in Ireland, you may be entitled to compensation under the ‘Compensation Injuries Compensation Scheme’.

Compensation may be awarded on the basis of out of pocket expenses, including medical expenses and loss of earnings.

You are not entitled to compensation for items stolen or property damaged. For this you must claim through your insurance company.

If the victim has died as a result of the incident, compensation may be awarded to the dependants of the victim.

The incident in which the injury was caused must have been reported to the Gardaí.

There is a three-month time limit for making a claim, but this can be extended in exceptional circumstances up to two years if the Tribunal is satisfied that the circumstances justify exceptional treatment.

Further information on the compensation scheme is available here.

If you are a citizen of another EU State you can apply for compensation directly from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal or through the national compensating authority in your home country. They will advise you about making a claim or you can apply directly through the European’s Commission website.

Yes, tourists can claim compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other related costs, if the accident was caused by someone else’s negligence. The law is the same for overseas visitors as it is for Irish residents.

Personal injury claims are processed by the Injuries Resolution Board, (IRB) the statutory body that handles personal injury claims in Ireland. In most cases you need to make your claim within two years of the accident.

You can make a claim directly through the IRB, or a personal injury solicitor can manage the claim for you. A solicitor can ensure there are no mistakes in the IRB application (that could affect the validity of your claim), as well as negotiate on your behalf, or represent you in court if necessary.

You do not need to be in Ireland to make the personal injury claim. However, you may need to have some medical evaluations completed in Ireland.

If your case goes to court, you may need to fly back to Ireland to be present for the hearing of your case.