MORE than 50 cases of elder abuse referred to gardaí last year resulted in legal action — a 40% increase from the previous year, HSE figures have revealed.

MORE than 50 cases of elder abuse referred to gardaí last year resulted in legal action — a 40% increase from the previous year, HSE figures have revealed.

THE Health Service Executive is investigating 1,760 cases of elder abuse, with 477 new referrals made in the first quarter of this year.