The report was made to gardaí after regular withdrawals from the man’s financial accounts were noticed by a relative.

Just 2% of all safeguarding concerns are made by those who may have been abused, it has emerged.

Reports of alleged abuse of older people and persons with disabilities increased by almost 30% in the past year, it has emerged.

A national campaign to help stamp out financial abuse of vulnerable adults gets under way today against a backdrop of a 44% rise in the number of alleged cases.

Almost 8,000 claims of adult abuse or neglect have been made to the HSE.