Also in Expertise:
Many people have the misfortune to be injured as victims of violent crime. The "injury" can take the form of a threat or harassment, as well as the more conventional assault. It is very important that the victim has reported the crime to the police as soon as possible. In these circumstances a compensation application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority ("CICA") may be possible, as an alternative to suing the wrongdoer (which in many cases will be unproductive in financial terms).
Your injury may be psychological; for example, where you have witnessed an assault on a relative. Where in doubt about whether or not you can claim, it is always best to take professional advice. It is important to note that the CICA do not normally entertain claims where more than two years have elapsed since the date of the crime, but there are exceptions and it can often still be worthwhile claiming even if this time limit has apparently been missed.