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.

Ms Maxwell has campaigned for improvements to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme since her own assault, because of difficulties she encountered with the system.

She said she was unable to work because of her injuries, which have caused her hand to deteriorate as time goes on.

She said GoFundMe campaigns for victims of crime “take away the responsibility from the State” and is concerned such campaigns could result in an impact on a person’s compensation under the State scheme.

It may not in their best interests to have a GoFundMe [for victims of crime].

Decisions on compensation are made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, and the scheme is administered by the Department of Justice.

The scheme operates with the principle of a victim not receiving double compensation. For example, any compensation from the offender, either voluntarily or court-ordered, will be deducted from an award of compensation claimed under the scheme.

The application form for non-fatal injuries highlights: “The tribunal will take into account social welfare payments and employer payments and reduce the award accordingly.” 

A spokesman for the Department of Justice said: “Within the scheme (paragraphs 5, 14 and 15), include provisions dealing with duplicate compensation. 

"Assessment of all claims made under the scheme is entirely a matter for the independent tribunal to determine under the scheme’s terms and conditions, with all claims determined on their own individual merits and set of circumstances.” 

The compensation of victims through the State scheme is currently under review by the Law Reform Commission, which is scheduled to issue its report on the issue later this year.