Criminal Law Solicitor in Swords

What tends to happen once a charge is issued

Most criminal matters begin one of two ways: a garda arrests and charges someone directly, often after a station visit, or a summons arrives in the post requiring a court appearance on a stated date. Either way, the offence can range from a road traffic matter or public order incident to something more serious that will eventually be sent forward for trial. We look at the charge sheet or summons, the facts as you understand them, and any garda station interview notes before saying anything about how the case might be approached.

For more serious allegations, the early groundwork, gathering documents, identifying witnesses, understanding the evidence against you, shapes everything that follows. We do not promise a particular result, because no solicitor honestly can, but we do set out the options plainly so you can make informed decisions about bail, legal aid, and how the case should be run.

Getting advice to us quickly, and what helps at the outset

We attend garda stations around the clock, so if you are brought in for questioning, you or someone on your behalf can contact us before an interview takes place. Once a charge or summons exists, the sooner we see the paperwork the sooner we can advise on bail conditions, a legal aid application if your means and the charge qualify, and what the first court date will actually involve.

Consultations can take place at our Kilkenny office, by phone, or by video, which suits people living in north County Dublin who would otherwise have to travel for an initial meeting. The first conversation is a no-obligation discussion of your situation; if you decide to go ahead, we set out the terms of acting for you in a letter of engagement before any work begins.

Covering Swords and the rest of Fingal

Swords sits within the Fingal local authority area, and we take instructions from clients here as well as from nearby Malahide, Donabate and the Darndale area. Dublin’s criminal courts sit at a small number of venues, including the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street, Blanchardstown Courthouse and Tallaght Courthouse, and a case arising in Swords will usually be listed at whichever of these sits for that part of Dublin. We can confirm the correct venue and date once we see your summons or charge sheet.

Our work extends across the south east and Leinster, taking in Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford, with court appearances arranged at each county’s own venues. That range means we are used to dealing with Fingal matters alongside cases from other parts of Dublin and the wider region.