US tourist who survived Dublin horror attack sues son over €120k GoFundMe cash

A US tourist who survived a horror attack in Dublin last summer is locked in a legal battle with his son in a row over €120,000 raised on GoFundMe in the wake of the attack.

The Irish Sun on Sunday can reveal Stephen Termini is suing Mike Rizzuto and the case is set to be heard at the Supreme Court of the State of New York later this month.

Termini is representing himself, while Rizzuto is understood to have appointed lawyers and is expected to defend the case.

New Yorker Termini was viciously attacked on Talbot Street in Dublin city centre on July 19, 2023 while he was on holiday.

The Buffalo man, 57, suffered severe injuries and was left fighting for his life in a coma at the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

His son Rizzuto set up a GoFundMe fundraiser following the incident to help with medical expenses and travel costs for the family to travel to Ireland.

Rizzuto, along with another of Termini’s sons, then travelled to Dublin to be at their dad’s bedside.

Termini — who suffered serious injuries to his right eye, had a bleed on his brain and a skull fracture — made a miraculous recovery.

He hugged and spoke with his sons at hospital, but the siblings later left the country before Termini was discharged last August.

Termini’s legal dispute with Rizzuto centres around the €120,000 raised by 4,600 donors on GoFundMe. Upon his release from hospital, Termini claimed he did not get any of the money.

Rizzuto said at the time that the donations had never been intended for his father’s personal use, adding that taxes and other expenses would have to be covered before any decision about the money could be made.

Termini initially lodged papers in relation to the case to Erie County Clerk last November and was informed in recent weeks of the court date. He has now taken his dispute and claim to court, which Rizzuto is expected to vigorously deny and fight.

Speaking to us this week, Termini said he has not spoken to either of his sons since seeing them at the hospital.

He explained that while he initially had hired an attorney, he is now representing himself in the case.

Termini told the Irish Sun on Sunday: “It’s coming up later this month. I will appear in front of the judge.

“Mike Rizzuto hired an attorney to represent him.

“But I’m just going to walk in there and tell the judge what I say happened and I’m going to show my evidence.”

Termini’s love for Ireland

Termini still holds a deep love for Ireland despite being the victim of a horror attack and dreams of returning to see out his days here once he is financially capable of doing so.

He also legally changed his surname to Donnelly, after his great grandmother Anne Donnelly who was from Ireland.

Termini told us: “Every day I dream of living in Ireland. My great grandmother, she came to the US with the hunger problem in 1800. And I’ll have to tell you, after what happened in Dublin last summer, I took my great grandmother’s last name. Her name was Anne Donnelly.”

Contacted by The Irish Sun on Sunday, Rizzuto answered our call before saying that his legal advice was to refer anyone requesting an interview to his legal representatives.

We also contacted a firm listed as his legal representatives on the case in the US for comment, but there was no reply to our queries.

A number of juveniles remain before the courts charged in relation to the attack on Termini.