Criminal Law Solicitor in Raheny

What happens after a charge or summons reaches you in Raheny

Most matters begin with a first appearance in the District Court, where the charge is read out, a plea is noted and the question of bail is dealt with if it arises. Whether you have been arrested and charged at a garda station or simply received a summons in the post, the process from here depends on the nature of the offence and whether it can be dealt with summarily or needs to be sent forward to a higher court.

For more serious, indictable offences, the case moves from the District Court toward trial, and the groundwork done in the weeks before that hearing, statements, disclosure, witness evidence, often shapes how the matter is presented. We also advise on applications to have a conviction overturned where that question arises, though the position always depends on the circumstances and current law, and we would need to go through the detail with you before saying more.

Getting the right advice in place quickly

If you are facing a garda station interview, we attend around the clock, and the sooner we are contacted the more useful that attendance tends to be. Where legal aid is a possibility, it is applied for in court and depends on your means and the seriousness of the charge, and we can talk you through how that application works as part of the first conversation.

That first conversation is a no-obligation discussion of your situation, and it can take place at our Kilkenny office, by phone or by video, whichever suits you better given that Raheny is some distance from Kilkenny. If you decide to go ahead, a letter of engagement sets out the terms before any work begins, so you know exactly what has been agreed.

Covering Raheny, Kilbarrack, Coolock and Artane

We take on cases from across Dublin City and the wider county, and Raheny, along with neighbouring Kilbarrack, Coolock and Artane, falls within the Dublin City Council local authority area. A charge connected to any of these Dublin 5 addresses is typically dealt with at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street, and we are used to working with clients in this part of the city who want advice organised before that first date is listed.

Because consultations happen by phone, video or at our Kilkenny office, distance from the courthouse itself is rarely the obstacle people expect it to be. What matters more is getting in touch early, so there is time to go through the papers and decide on a sensible way forward.

For the courts and how cases run across the county, see our criminal law solicitor page for Dublin.