Compensation for people who have been subject to sexual violence
If you have experienced sexual violence you may be eligible to apply for compensation. This page gives you information about claims and compensation options, who can apply for them and how.
Your options
The government funds a compensation scheme for victims of violent crime called the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
The purpose of the Scheme is to compensate the victims of violent crime for the physical or mental injuries they have received. This can include, in some cases, compensation for lost earnings or certain other expenses such as for medical treatment or equipment.
The compensation that a victim receives comes from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which runs the Scheme. The compensation does not come from the person who committed the offence.
For more information on the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme, including who can apply and how to apply, see A guide to Criminal Injuries Compensation.
The Government has also provided a guide to the scheme here.
You can also bring a civil claim for damages against the person responsible for your injury, or against someone who failed to protect you from violence (such as Social Services).
You can do this as well as, or instead of, applying to CICA. However, if you are awarded damages by a civil court, CICA will take these into account in assessing your compensation. If you are awarded compensation from CICA, and subsequently succeed in a civil claim, you will have to reimburse CICA for any monies received from CICA.
To apply for damages you will have to show a civil court that you have received a personal injury as a result of an attack. There are time limits for bringing a civil claim which vary depending on the type of injury that you received. However, these time limits can be applied more flexibly in certain circumstances.
To find a solicitor who can assist you, you can contact the Law Society via their website.
If your abuser is convicted of committing and offence against you in the criminal courts, the court can decide to make a compensation order. This means that your abuser has to compensate you for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from the offence.
If you want the court to consider awarding you compensation, you will need to tell the police officer working on your case. They will ask you for the details of any loss or damage you have experienced. This information will be passed to the prosecutor, who will then make the request in court.
The amount of compensation ordered will be whatever the court considers appropriate. The court will listen to arguments by the prosecutor and the offender (or their lawyer).
If, for any reason, you do not want compensation then the prosecutor should tell the court and this should be respected.