Attack survivor says GoFundMe campaigns could impact State compensation

Woman said GoFundMe campaigns for victims of crime 'take away the responsibility from the State' 

Ruth Maxwell sustained severed tenders in her hand as she fought off her attacker, Slawomir Gierlowski, in Dublin in 2016, and damaged her hand when pulling his knife away from her throat. Picture: Bob Morrison

A woman who suffered serious hand injuries in an attack in Dublin is urging people to consider that Gofundme campaigns for victims of crime could impact the level of compensation they receive from the State.

Ruth Maxwell sustained severed tendons in her hand as she fought off her attacker, Slawomir Gierlowski, in Dublin in 2016. She damaged her hand when pulling his knife away from her throat. After a DNA profile was made after that attack, Gierlowski was linked to and convicted of three other attacks on women in 2010, 2011 and 2015.