Survivors of attacks need to be listened to says survivor Ruth

A WOMAN who bravely fended off a serial predator in a laneway, says survivors of attacks need to be “listened to”.

Ruth Maxwell fought back when she was attacked in Clondalkin while on her way to work in Knockmeenagh Lane in 2016.

Maxwell’s bravery was instrumental in the garda investigation, as the CCTV footage led to the arrest of Polish national Slawomir Gierlowski, and subsequent linking of DNA profiles with other attacks.

Described as a “serious threat to the safety of women” by a judge, Gierlowski is currently serving 18 years in jail, for attacks on a number of women, including three women in the Clondalkin area.

In the wake of the horrific Ashling Murphy murder, Ruth told RTE’s Liveline on Monday, about the lack of support for victims, including the HSE’s refusal to provide her with counselling.

“Sometimes we’re the forgotten victims. There is no supports or services. I’ve received nothing at this stage. There is nothing for my hand, no psychological supports,” said Ruth.

Ruth lost the use of her left hand after fighting off her attacker, who had a kill kit with him including a hunting knife and cable ties.

“The HSE said it wasn’t financially viable for them to consider giving me any psychological supports. If you are to help victims, you have to set up rehabilitation programmes, re-integration programmes for victims to get back into society. Just like you do for offenders. You can’t be expected all of a sudden after a trail, to get on with their lives again.”

Maxwell suffered life changing injuries with the loss of a functioning hand, not to mention the mental scars that have never healed.

Ruth left Clondalkin, her job, and Dublin, following the attack. Although she has worked hard behind the scenes to change legislation and get State support for victims of assaults, it is now that support is needed.

“As a woman who survived, you are in another nightmare where you are trying to re-integrate back into society with as minimal amount of fear as you can, because you are controlled by fear. I micro manage all my movements every single day,” she said.

“The worst part of that for me is that I don’t have supports and I don’t have services. I’m very angry with the Department of Justice over that, because I wouldn’t allow that kind of behaviour from my child or any other victim if I could help it.”