Son of assaulted US tourist says he can account for 'every penny' of GoFundMe monies 

Jesse and Michael Rizzuto in Dublin after the assault on their father . Picture: Moya Nolan

The son of an American tourist left in a coma after an assault in Dublin city centre has said he can account for “every penny” of a GoFundMe campaign launched to help him assist his father.

Mike Rizzuto said he was horrified to learn his father, Stephen Termini, had accused him of withholding funds worth more than €133,000.

Speaking from his home in Buffalo, New York, he told the Irish Examiner he has kept a spreadsheet of all expenses which he has submitted to the GoFundMe team.

“I have all the receipts,” he said. “I have huge compassion for our father and love him very much. He was seriously injured thousands of miles away and had nobody to care for him at that time.

He suffered a brain injury and was in a coma. We raised funds to go and see him and help and support him while there.

“I have not withheld anything; I’m concerned about his recovery from his assault. I can’t even imagine the trauma he feels or has yet to feel.

“The hospital did not want to discharge him at one point, he struggled during a hospital task to go to the shop and buy something.

“It would be irresponsible to just hand him more than €100,000 in cash."

Mr Rizzuto added he also needed clarity on the total amount of his father’s bills from his stay in hospital.

“I’m working with experienced people to help him with the funds that we are concerned he won’t be able to manage properly."

He added he would always “be here” for their father.

“I just feel so awful about this,” he said “We were building a relationship with our dad over the past few years after me and my brother were adopted as babies."

Mr Rizzuto said there was €85,000 of the €133,516 left in the GoFundMe account.

Stephen Termini: 'I have nothing now — I am broke and would like to get sorted with a house and land and work and pay my taxes in Ireland. Picture: Michael Rizzuto/GoFundMe

Stephen Termini, 57 who has also returned to Buffalo, said: “I am doing really well. I don’t have a brain injury and I have completely recovered. All the hospital bills were covered by the embassy and government.

“But the hospital wouldn’t let me return on the flight with Mike and Jesse in case something happened, they would be responsible. There was a task and I struggled with it, but then I got through it.

“I was mad that they wouldn’t discharge me. I am going back to work and doing well.

I am going to set up my own GoFundMe page so Mike can transfer money to me. We are not in contact right now, maybe that will get better.

“I believe the money could be used to buy a small house in Westport where my great grandmother Anne Donnelly was born. I believe Ireland is my home. I want to live and work there and be a citizen.

“The boys were adopted as babies and that was their mother’s decision, and then we connected. I just want the people of Ireland to know what is happening and hopefully this will be sorted out.

“I have nothing now — I am broke and would like to get sorted with a house and land and work and pay my taxes in Ireland."