Project definitions
An Garda Síochána
Lawyer
Police service for the Republic of Ireland. Members of An Garda Síochána can be called gardaí
(plural) or garda (singular) or, informally, be referred to as guards. A police station is called a garda
station.
A person qualified and authorised according to national law to plead and act on behalf of his or her
clients, to engage in the practice of law, to appear before the courts or advise and represent his or her
clients in legal matters. In Ireland, there are two types of lawyers, solicitors who attend police stations
and barristers who generally present cases in court.
Audio recording
Audio recording means a recording made on any device on which sounds are recorded so as to be
capable of being reproduced.
Member in Charge/Custody Officer
The Member in Charge in a garda station is the garda who is in charge at the station of ensuring
rights in custody are enforced pursuant to the Custody regulations (the rules which provide for AVR).
As far as practicable, they are not involved in the arrest of a person who is in custody or in the
investigation of that offence.
Audio-visual recording (AVR)
Audio-visual recording means a recording on which images, including images accompanied by sound,
are recorded or otherwise stored, including motion picture film, video cassette, video tape, video disc,
other recording mediums or a copy that duplicates in whole or in part the original.
Persons in a situation of vulnerability
Any person who, because of his or her specific situation or circumstances, requires specific care,
attention or assistance.
Child
A child is any person below the age of 18 years, as provided by Art 1 of the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC). When referring to a child who is a suspect or accused person, the term
child may extend to persons older than 18 in certain cases as established by the EU Directive (EU)
2016/800 of 11 May 2016.
Transcription
The interpretation of an audio, video, or audio-video recording that is memorialised in a written
transcript for use in a court proceeding.
Interview
The questioning of a suspect or accused person by a law enforcement officer regarding their alleged
involvement in a (criminal) offence.
6
7