Contacting the Police

To contact the police in Turkey you need to dial 155. However not all operators will speak English so you will need to ask to be put through to the nearest Foreigners Department. If you are in Turkey with a holiday provider, the local tour operator tour representative may be able to assist you.

Crime

Accident/assault victims

We will do everything possible to assist you if you have been the victim of an accident or assault.

We can provide information on local legal and medical practitioners, but we cannot give you legal or medical advice, or formally recommend or pay for doctors or lawyers.

All cases are treated in complete confidence. We can also help you to contact friends and family and assist with arrangements to get you home, if that is your wish. All persons who have been assaulted or in an accident must report the incident to the Police. If necessary, and particularly in serious cases, the police will provide an interpreter. The Embassy can provide some practical information, but it is essential to engage a local lawyer to act as your representative if a prosecution is being considered.

Arrest

If you are arrested, you may ask the Turkish authorities to inform the Embassy of your arrest.

The Embassy can:

• Visit you or arrange for you to be visited by an Honorary Consul once you have been charged and detained - a visit cannot take place while under arrest and waiting for a court hearing.
• If necessary, provide you with a list of local English speaking lawyers
• Advise you about the prison system and about your entitlement to visits, mail and other facilities
• Bring details of any medical condition you may have to the attention of the police or prison officials
• Pursue with the prison authorities on your behalf any complaints about ill-treatment or discrimination
• Pass message to and from your family.

However, the Embassy cannot:

• Secure better treatment for Irish citizens than local or other nationals receive
• Give or pay for legal advice
• Recommend specific lawyers
• Interfere with or influence the proper operation and application of the local judicial system
• Provide any financial assistance while you are in prison
• Pay bail bonds or fines.

Death and Illness Abroad

Death Abroad

If a member of your family dies while abroad, the Irish Embassy will provide all possible assistance in dealing with the formalities that arise in these situations.

The Embassy can:

• Arrange to have the next of kin of the deceased informed by the Garda Síochána
• Assist relatives to appoint a local undertaker
• Assist with procuring documents such as death certificates or medical or police reports
• Assist relatives to communicate with the Police and other authorities

However, the Embassy does not:

• Investigate the circumstances of the death
• Pay expenses relating to the burial
• Pay the cost of repatriating the remains
• Pay for relatives to travel to where the death occurred or to accompany the remains to Ireland.

If the deceased was covered by travel insurance, it is important for next of kin to contact the insurance company without delay. If there is no insurance cover, the cost of repatriation or burial will have to be met by the family.

Families should be aware that the time required to repatriate remains to Ireland varies depending on the circumstances of a death. A minimum of a week is quite usual from Turkey. However, there may be circumstances where repatriation can be delayed for longer.

In cases of sudden or unexpected death an autopsy may be required. Further investigation may be necessary before a decision as to cause of death is reached. If death was caused by a criminal act, the police will be ordered to conduct a full investigation. The State Prosecutor will then decide whether to prosecute. This can delay the release of the body for burial.

Illness/Hospitalisation

In an emergency, please go to the nearest public hospital. If you have run out of described medication, bring your empty box of medication to a pharmacy to see if it can be gilled before looking for a doctor. Following an accident or illness you may be taken to a private hospital. Please note that if you do not have travel insurance these hospitals can be very expensive and discharge is not permitted until all bills have been settled in full.

If you become ill or require hospital treatment while in Turkey, you or your friends/family can contact the Embassy/nearest Honorary Consulate for assistance if you need help in dealing with the situation.

The Embassy can:

• Offer general advice on the local medical services
• Assist in liaising with doctors or hospitals
• Arrange interpretation if necessary
• Advise relatives or friends about accidents or illnesses
• Assist in arranging repatriation to Ireland

It is important to stress that the Embassy does not have any funds to pay hospital bills or meet other medical expenses on your behalf.

Also, the Embassy does not:

• Provide medical advice
• Pursue insurance companies about payment of or refund of the cost of medical treatment
• Pursue claims for compensation relating to negligence, injury or any other matter
• Pay for visits by relatives.

Air ambulance

Please be aware that a medical evacuation to Ireland from Turkey can cost upwards of €20,000. Comprehensive travel insurance is essential in order to protect yourself in the event of a serious medical emergency requiring medical repatriation to Ireland.