Dublin acid attack victim: ‘All I can remember is pain, panic and chaos'
Joanna Grabczak, who is originally from Poland but has lived in Ireland since the age of five, was just 20 years old when a woman walked into the fast food restaurant where Joanna worked and threw sulphuric acid at her.
The mother-of-one was working behind the counter of One Asian Kitchen Takeaway in Tallaght, Dublin, on December 13, 2020, when Katarzyna Wsiubiak carried out the horrifying attack.
In 2023, Wsiubiak, who was 34 at the time and of Abberly Square, Tallaght, was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Speaking for the first time since the terrifying ordeal, Joanna said she still has nightmares about the night in question but that counselling and the love and support shown by her partner Daniel, her three-year-old son, family and friends has helped pull her through.
Speaking about the attack, Joanna, who was studying to become a social worker at the time, said the pain she felt once the acid hit her skin was unbearable.
She said: 'I was actually not meant to be working that night, I was meant to be off. I was working at the Chinese takeaway and I was more than halfway through my shift when a woman walked in at just after 8pm and came through the counter and threw a cup at me.
'I didn't know what was in the cup but then the pain hit me. I stopped in my tracks and I didn't hear anything except my own screams.
'I pulled off my top and my co-worker grabbed me and brought me to the sink and started pouring water on me.
'I'm so grateful to him because if he hadn't done that my scars and injuries would no doubt have been a lot more severe. All I can remember is the pain and the absolute panic and chaos.
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'The clothes I had on were starting to melt into my skin. The acid hit my face, chest, the left side of my abdomen and left arm. The right side of my face and arm did get a little acid on it too but it was mild in comparison.
'My left eye shut instantly and I now have a scar on my cornea.'
Speaking about the woman who carried out the attack, Katarzyna Wsiubiak, Joanna said: 'She was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and is currently in a psychiatric hospital.
'I didn't know her personally at the time of the attack, she would order food from the restaurant and I would say hello to her but that was it.'
And speaking about her life since the nightmare ordeal, Joanna said it has been a bumpy road but she is finally making progress, she continued: 'Since then, I've been under the care of several hospitals as an outpatient.
'I am still receiving laser scar therapy at St James's Hospital for facial injuries, ongoing care at the Eye and Ear Hospital, as the acid also damaged my left eye, leaving a scar on my cornea that affects my vision.
'The staff at St James's Hospital and the Eye and Ear Hospital have been incredible and I can't thank them enough.
'I have also had two years of therapy for PTSD, anxiety and the horrific dreams which I continue to have to manage daily.'
The young mother said she is now hoping to raise funds in order to have a hair transplant and get tattoos to help cover the permanent scarring.
'This attack didn't just scar my body, it stole time, confidence, and peace from me. But I'm still here, and I'm still fighting. I want to feel like myself again. I want to go outside without feeling ashamed or broken.
'I had to have skin grafts on my head so I have no hair growing there. I need to have a hair transplant and it costs a lot up to €10,000, which I don't have. I never received any compensation for what happened to me.
'Surgeons will have to take healthy hair from the other side of my head to try to cover the grafted area. I'm hoping it will help me take one more step towards healing, physically and emotionally.'
Joanna, who spent a month in hospital due to her horrific injuries, said she set up the GoFundMe page in a bid to fundraise €13,500 for further treatment.
She continued: 'I'm trying to raise funds to help me take back control over how I look and feel about myself.
'I also want to get tattoos, which will not be cosmetic but rather therapeutic.
'Each session will hopefully transform painful reminders into symbols of strength and healing.
'This is not about vanity, it is about giving me the confidence to look in the mirror and not be reminded of my trauma.'
Joanna was one of the three victims. A second woman suffered burns when she tried to help her injured colleague remove her clothes. The third victim suffered burns to her ankle as a result of the acid splashing near her feet.
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Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Dublin acid attack victim: ‘All I can remember is pain, panic and chaos'
Joanna Grabczak, who is originally from Poland but has lived in Ireland since the age of five, was just 20 years old when a woman walked into the fast food restaurant where Joanna worked and threw sulphuric acid at her. The mother-of-one was working behind the counter of One Asian Kitchen Takeaway in Tallaght, Dublin, on December 13, 2020, when Katarzyna Wsiubiak carried out the horrifying attack. In 2023, Wsiubiak, who was 34 at the time and of Abberly Square, Tallaght, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Speaking for the first time since the terrifying ordeal, Joanna said she still has nightmares about the night in question but that counselling and the love and support shown by her partner Daniel, her three-year-old son, family and friends has helped pull her through. Speaking about the attack, Joanna, who was studying to become a social worker at the time, said the pain she felt once the acid hit her skin was unbearable. She said: 'I was actually not meant to be working that night, I was meant to be off. I was working at the Chinese takeaway and I was more than halfway through my shift when a woman walked in at just after 8pm and came through the counter and threw a cup at me. 'I didn't know what was in the cup but then the pain hit me. I stopped in my tracks and I didn't hear anything except my own screams. 'I pulled off my top and my co-worker grabbed me and brought me to the sink and started pouring water on me. 'I'm so grateful to him because if he hadn't done that my scars and injuries would no doubt have been a lot more severe. All I can remember is the pain and the absolute panic and chaos. ADVERTISEMENT 'The clothes I had on were starting to melt into my skin. The acid hit my face, chest, the left side of my abdomen and left arm. The right side of my face and arm did get a little acid on it too but it was mild in comparison. 'My left eye shut instantly and I now have a scar on my cornea.' Speaking about the woman who carried out the attack, Katarzyna Wsiubiak, Joanna said: 'She was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and is currently in a psychiatric hospital. 'I didn't know her personally at the time of the attack, she would order food from the restaurant and I would say hello to her but that was it.' And speaking about her life since the nightmare ordeal, Joanna said it has been a bumpy road but she is finally making progress, she continued: 'Since then, I've been under the care of several hospitals as an outpatient. 'I am still receiving laser scar therapy at St James's Hospital for facial injuries, ongoing care at the Eye and Ear Hospital, as the acid also damaged my left eye, leaving a scar on my cornea that affects my vision. 'The staff at St James's Hospital and the Eye and Ear Hospital have been incredible and I can't thank them enough. 'I have also had two years of therapy for PTSD, anxiety and the horrific dreams which I continue to have to manage daily.' The young mother said she is now hoping to raise funds in order to have a hair transplant and get tattoos to help cover the permanent scarring. 'This attack didn't just scar my body, it stole time, confidence, and peace from me. But I'm still here, and I'm still fighting. I want to feel like myself again. I want to go outside without feeling ashamed or broken. 'I had to have skin grafts on my head so I have no hair growing there. I need to have a hair transplant and it costs a lot up to €10,000, which I don't have. I never received any compensation for what happened to me. 'Surgeons will have to take healthy hair from the other side of my head to try to cover the grafted area. I'm hoping it will help me take one more step towards healing, physically and emotionally.' Joanna, who spent a month in hospital due to her horrific injuries, said she set up the GoFundMe page in a bid to fundraise €13,500 for further treatment. She continued: 'I'm trying to raise funds to help me take back control over how I look and feel about myself. 'I also want to get tattoos, which will not be cosmetic but rather therapeutic. 'Each session will hopefully transform painful reminders into symbols of strength and healing. 'This is not about vanity, it is about giving me the confidence to look in the mirror and not be reminded of my trauma.' Joanna was one of the three victims. A second woman suffered burns when she tried to help her injured colleague remove her clothes. The third victim suffered burns to her ankle as a result of the acid splashing near her feet.
Sunday World
9 hours ago
- Sunday World
Dublin acid attack victim: ‘All I can remember is pain, panic and chaos'
Woman needs hair transplant and tattoos for scars A young woman left permanently scarred after an unprovoked acid attack is hoping to raise funds to have reconstructive surgery to help give her back her confidence. Joanna Grabczak, who is originally from Poland but has lived in Ireland since the age of five, was just 20 years old when a woman walked into the fast food restaurant where Joanna worked and threw sulphuric acid at her. The mother-of-one was working behind the counter of One Asian Kitchen Takeaway in Tallaght, Dublin, on December 13, 2020, when Katarzyna Wsiubiak carried out the horrifying attack. In 2023, Wsiubiak, who was 34 at the time and of Abberly Square, Tallaght, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Speaking for the first time since the terrifying ordeal, Joanna said she still has nightmares about the night in question but that counselling and the love and support shown by her partner Daniel, her three-year-old son, family and friends has helped pull her through. Joanna's body covered in burns . . Joanna said she hopes a hair graft and tattoos to cover the scarring will help her become more confident when out in public. Speaking about the attack, Joanna, who was studying to become a social worker at the time, said the pain she felt once the acid hit her skin was unbearable. She said: 'I was actually not meant to be working that night, I was meant to be off. I was working at the Chinese takeaway and I was more than halfway through my shift when a woman walked in at just after 8pm and came through the counter and threw a cup at me. 'I didn't know what was in the cup but then the pain hit me. I stopped in my tracks and I didn't hear anything except my own screams. 'I pulled off my top and my co-worker grabbed me and brought me to the sink and started pouring water on me. 'I'm so grateful to him because if he hadn't done that my scars and injuries would no doubt have been a lot more severe. All I can remember is the pain and the absolute panic and chaos. Joanna's body covered in burns News in 90 Seconds - Monday June 23 'The clothes I had on were starting to melt into my skin. The acid hit my face, chest, the left side of my abdomen and left arm. The right side of my face and arm did get a little acid on it too but it was mild in comparison. 'My left eye shut instantly and I now have a scar on my cornea.' Speaking about the woman who carried out the attack, Katarzyna Wsiubiak, Joanna said: 'She was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and is currently in a psychiatric hospital. 'I didn't know her personally at the time of the attack, she would order food from the restaurant and I would say hello to her but that was it.' And speaking about her life since the nightmare ordeal, Joanna said it has been a bumpy road but she is finally making progress, she continued: 'Since then, I've been under the care of several hospitals as an outpatient. Acid attack victim Joanna Grabczak 'I am still receiving laser scar therapy at St James's Hospital for facial injuries, ongoing care at the Eye and Ear Hospital, as the acid also damaged my left eye, leaving a scar on my cornea that affects my vision. 'The staff at St James's Hospital and the Eye and Ear Hospital have been incredible and I can't thank them enough. 'I have also had two years of therapy for PTSD, anxiety and the horrific dreams which I continue to have to manage daily.' The young mother said she is now hoping to raise funds in order to have a hair transplant and get tattoos to help cover the permanent scarring. Joanna Grabczak has moved out of Dublin since the attack. Photo: Gerry Mooney 'This attack didn't just scar my body, it stole time, confidence, and peace from me. But I'm still here, and I'm still fighting. I want to feel like myself again. I want to go outside without feeling ashamed or broken. 'I had to have skin grafts on my head so I have no hair growing there. I need to have a hair transplant and it costs a lot up to €10,000, which I don't have. I never received any compensation for what happened to me. 'Surgeons will have to take healthy hair from the other side of my head to try to cover the grafted area. I'm hoping it will help me take one more step towards healing, physically and emotionally.' Joanna, who spent a month in hospital due to her horrific injuries, said she set up the GoFundMe page in a bid to fundraise €13,500 for further treatment. She continued: 'I'm trying to raise funds to help me take back control over how I look and feel about myself. 'I also want to get tattoos, which will not be cosmetic but rather therapeutic. 'Each session will hopefully transform painful reminders into symbols of strength and healing. 'This is not about vanity, it is about giving me the confidence to look in the mirror and not be reminded of my trauma.' Joanna was one of the three victims. A second woman suffered burns when she tried to help her injured colleague remove her clothes. The third victim suffered burns to her ankle as a result of the acid splashing near her feet.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Sunday World
Former Queen's University Belfast student who raped 10 women jailed for at least 24 years
Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zou (28) was handed a minimum term of 24 years Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zou (28) was handed a minimum term of 24 years after being found guilty of attacking the women between 2019 and 2023. Zou kept a trophy box of women's belongings and filmed nine of the rapes on women as they lost consciousness. Three of the 10 victims have been identified, prosecutors say, but Metropolitan Police detectives fear he could have targeted dozens more women. Zhenhao Zou was warned he faces a long jail term (Metropolitan Police/PA) The court heard Zou offered to undergo chemical castration, as victims described being 'haunted' by his attacks. At Zou's sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court on Thursday, victim impact statements from the three identified women were read out. The court also heard that a pre-sentence report assessed that Zou "was a high risk of serious harm to the public, particularly lone females". The report also said he has minimal insight into his offending. It also said that Zou offered to be chemically castrated in the hope of receiving a lighter sentence and never to have sex again, but it added that this offer was not said in recognition of the harm he caused. The Metropolitan Police publicly appealed for potential victims to contact them after Zhenhao Zou was convicted in March (Metropolitan Police/PA) Among the victim impact statements read to the court was that of a woman who was raped after Zou pressured her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and prevented her from leaving his flat in Elephant and Castle in May 2023. She wrote in her statement: 'I cannot determine how long this incident will affect me, but I know that the impact has deeply affected my personality, and it will likely persist long-term. I no longer believe in the inherent goodness of people, because I have never encountered such severe criminal behaviour before. 'I am constantly confused about why some people are capable of doing such terrible things. When I recall that night, I think I should have done more, perhaps I should have screamed and called the police, instead of just screaming, which didn't change much. 'Maybe I should have destroyed his belongings, but I didn't do any of that. This sense of guilt has continued to haunt me.' She added: 'I have lost faith in human beings, I have no trust in others. Before this incident, I was not aware that a human could do such evil things. When I meet with strangers, I get flashbacks of what he did.' The woman told of feeling 'fear' towards Zou, saying his family is 'very powerful' in China. A second woman, who is now living in China, was also raped by Zou in his student flat near Russell Square in October 2021 when she was unconscious, the court heard. She said in her statement: 'I experienced for the first time a loss of consciousness. I opened my eyes for a few seconds during the sexual assault in his room, he was thrusting violently against my body. News in 90 Seconds - June 19th 'I was completely powerless and could only use all my strength to tell him I was menstruating and demand he stop his actions. 'Although I lost consciousness just moments later, his face in that moment will clearly stay in my mind forever. As a result, I now experience severe physical and psychological distress.' The woman also told of feeling 'waves of nausea and disgust' after she was attacked. She added: 'I know words will never fully convey the depth of this wound. But one thing is certain, what happened that night is etched into my soul forever. His face, his expression – they will never leave me. I will never forgive him.' More than 20 women contacted the force following publicity in the media around Zou's trial to say they think they may have been attacked by him. Prosecutors say among them was a victim in China, known as Female D. In her statement, she wrote of being 'trapped in self blame', 'gagged by shame' and being 'haunted' by nightmares of what happened. A screengrab from body worn camera of the arrest of Zhenhao Zou (Metropolitan Police/PA) After a month-long trial, Zou, who was most recently living in Elephant and Castle, south-east London, was found guilty of raping three women in London and another seven in China between September 2019 and May 2023. He was convicted of 11 counts of rape, with two of the offences relating to one victim. Zou was also convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and three of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offence, namely butanediol. Prosecutors said Zou appeared to be 'a smart and charming young man', but was in fact 'a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist'. He comes from a wealthy family, affording a Rolex, a wardrobe of designer clothes, cosmetic procedures such as a hair transplant and facial surgery, and thousands in monthly rent while living in London as an international engineering student. A picture used by Zou online – he would befriend women before luring them back to his flat, drugging and raping them (Metropolitan Police/PA) Zou, who also used the name Pakho online, befriended fellow Chinese students on WeChat and dating apps, before inviting them for drinks and drugging them at his flats in London or an unknown location in China. The student first moved to Belfast in 2017 to study mechanical engineering at Queen's University before heading to London in 2019 to do a master's degree and then a PhD at UCL. His crimes began to be uncovered in November 2023, when a woman went to police to allege that she had been attacked by Zou. There was not enough evidence to bring a criminal charge over her claim, but when Zou's phone was seized officers found disturbing videos of him raping unconscious women, and pipettes and sedating drugs in his flat.
