Sex assault victim challenges CICT compensation refusal in High Court
A woman was violently sexually and physically assaulted near a football pitch on 7 November 2021 and immediately reported it to the Garda Síochána. She learned of the criminal injuries compensation scheme only in 2026, after the two-year application deadline had passed, and the CICT refused her application on 1 April 2025. On 19 October 2026, Judge Mary Rose Gearty granted leave for her to bring judicial review proceedings challenging the refusal, arguing the tribunal is not an independent and impartial tribunal previously established by law. The proceedings, brought by counsel Conor Power, were adjourned to November 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court19 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A woman was violently sexually and physically assaulted near a football pitch.
- When
- The assault occurred on 7 November 2021.
- Investigation
- The woman immediately reported the assault to the Garda Síochána.
- Other details
- The woman says she was not given any information about the compensation scheme by gardaí and learned of it only in 2026.
- The scheme requires applications to be made within two years of the crime, making her application out of time.
- The woman seeks a declaration that the scheme is invalid because the tribunal is not an independent and impartial tribunal previously established by law.
- The woman also seeks damages.
- In court
- The CICT refused her compensation application on 1 April 2025.
- On 19 October 2026, Judge Mary Rose Gearty granted leave to bring judicial review proceedings to quash the CICT's refusal.
- The proceedings are against the tribunal, the Minister for Justice, the Garda Commissioner, Ireland and the Attorney General.
- The proceedings, brought by counsel Conor Power, were adjourned to November 2026.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe woman was violently sexually and physically assaulted near a football pitch (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault occurred on 7 November 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe woman immediately reported the assault to Garda Síochána (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Mary Rose Gearty granted leave to bring judicial review proceedings to quash the CICT's refusal (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe CICT refused her application on 1 April 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe proceedings are against the tribunal, the Minister for Justice, the Garda Commissioner, Ireland and the Attorney General (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman learned of the compensation scheme only in 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe scheme requires applications to be made within two years of the crime (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman seeks a declaration that the scheme is invalid because the tribunal is not an independent and impartial tribunal previously established by law (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman says she was not given any information about the compensation scheme by gardaí (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe woman also seeks damages (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Oct2026Sex assault victim challenges refusal of application to compensation scheme
Reports that Judge Mary Rose Gearty granted leave to bring judicial review proceedings challenging the CICT's April 2025 refusal of the woman's compensation application; the proceedings, brought by counsel Conor Power, were adjourned to next month.
victim, female