© PARC Road Safety Group. Click on the booklet cover to view or download.
First of its kind in Ireland
“Finding Your Way - A free booklet for families of victims following the death or serious injury of a loved one in a Road Traffic Collision” was first launched by PARC Road Safety Group in November 2012. This booklet will be updated regularly to cover any relevant changes to the Road Traffic Act.
The guide has arisen out of the pain, hurt, lack of information and confusion of those who have suffered greatly as a result of a road traffic collision in which they lost a loved one or been injured themselves. It is written with the intention of enabling those who come after us to benefit from our experience. It is our hope that it will empower families.
It outlines the steps involved in the professional Garda investigation, Inquest, Post Mortem, Civil and Criminal Cases and provides links to further information. The victims in the criminal justice system in Ireland are very much excluded from the process and this guide will enable them to be as informed as they possibly can about the procedures. It will enable them to ask the right questions, to know their rights and who to go to for information. It gives the dead and the very seriously injured a voice and is dedicated to all those who lost their lives on our roads and to all those people whose lives have been devastated by road traffic collisions.
An Garda Síochána distributed copies of PARC’s guide to Garda Family Liaison Officers (FLO's). In the future when a family has lost a loved one in a road traffic collision they will be given a copy of this guide by the Liaison Officer appointed to them.
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The Minister for Justice endorses PARC's guide for families of victims of road traffic collisions
“PARC’s commitment to road safety and their advocacy and support for
individuals bereaved and injured by collisions on our roads is to be
applauded. Their dedication is evidenced in the production and publication
of ‘Finding Your Way’, an invaluable information source and practical guide
for people who have found themselves affected by a road traffic collision.
‘Finding Your Way’ outlines what is involved in the investigation of fatal
and serious injury collisions and the legal proceedings which follow. By
doing so it seeks to ease the burden on families devastated by such
collisions, and I welcome its distribution by Garda Family Liaison
Officers, as part of the assistance they provide.
As a society we need to work together to improve all aspects of road
safety, including the experience of those suddenly and traumatically
affected by a collision. PARC’s contribution to this goal is extremely
valuable, and as Minister for Justice and Equality I congratulate them on
the publication of this updated edition.”
Ms Frances Fitzgerald T.D.
Minister for Justice and Equality
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Link to other Testimonials...
PARC would like to thank all those persons and agencies who have endorsed the
'Finding Your Way guide', including:
The Minister for Justice and Equality
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
The Minister for Health
An Garda Síochána
The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Deputy Thomas Broughan, TD
The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) (photos below)
Dr Gerry Lane, Consultant in Emergency Medicine
National Ambulance Service
The European Road Safety Charter
Liz O'Donnell, Chairperson (2014), Road Safety Authority
Moyagh Murdock, CEO (2014), Road Safety Authority
Gay Byrne, Chairperson (2006-2014), Road Safety Authority
Mr Noel Brett, CEO (2006-2013), Road Safety Authority (RSA)
Prof Dennis Cusack, Safety Director, Medical Bureau of Road Safety
Dr Declan Bedford, Specialist in in Public Health Medicine
The Law Society of Ireland (click here to see Law Society article in Dec Gazette)
Photos of Launch of PARC's Guide November 2012:
Chief Justice Susan Denham and DPP Claire Loftus presented with a copy of PARC's guide,
"Finding Your Way" - March 2013
"Finding Your Way" - March 2013
Liz O Donnell Chairperson and Moyagh Murdock CEO of the Road Safety Authority greet the 2014 edition of
'Finding Your Way' - a guide for families of victims of road traffic collisions at the opening of the
RSA/Garda 2014 Christmas Road Safety Campaign launch.
'Finding Your Way' - a guide for families of victims of road traffic collisions at the opening of the
RSA/Garda 2014 Christmas Road Safety Campaign launch.
RTE Today interviews Ann Fogarty and highlights PARC's guide for families of RTC victims
RTÉ Today
February 4 · **MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ANN**
Thank you to Ann Fogarty for sharing her harrowing story of the loss of her husband in a tragic traffic collision.
Ann works closely with PARC Road Safety group and was here to speak with us regarding their booklet Called ‘Finding Your Way’ , a guide for families of victims following the death or serious injury one in a road traffic collision. www.parcroadsafety.ie
Re-launch of PARC's guide 17 November 2013:
Link to..PRESS RELEASE - PARC Road Safety Group
BROUGHAN WELCOMES NEW GUIDE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS & THEIR FAMILIES
Deputy Tommy Broughan has warmly welcomed the publication of a new guide for victims of road traffic collisions and their families by the national road safety campaign group PARC – Promoting Awareness, Responsibility and Care on our roads.
Deputy Broughan said, “The outstanding leaders of PARC Ms. Susan Gray and Ms. Ann Fogarty launched this valuable guide “Finding Your Way – A Guide for Victims Following the Death or Serious Injury of a Loved one in a Road Traffic Collision” today at a ceremony to mark World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. (Of course, earlier this week the Road Safety Authority confirmed the incredible figure that more than 23,000 people have been killed on Irish roads since records began in 1959).
“The guide provides the outline of steps involved in the professional Garda investigation of fatal and serious injury collisions and the legal proceedings which follow. These include the post mortem, inquest and legal proceedings which as PARC note can often be complex and confusing for bereaved families.
“This is an invaluable guide for any family who has tragically suffered a bereavement due to a fatal road collision. I would again like to deeply commend the work of Susan Gray, Ann Fogarty and all of their colleagues in PARC for producing this excellent booklet and for their ongoing support for bereaved families who have lost a loved one on the roads”