Gardaí probe sexual abuse of elderly

THE gardaí are investigating 18 cases of sexual abuse of elderly men and women in the North Eastern Health Board region.

The cases have been uncovered by a health board community care expert who said the forms of abuse could be emotional, physical and financial as well as sexual.

Austin Waters, whose job with the North Eastern Health Board is to protect elderly people and train others to do the same, said the situation in the north east was just the tip of the iceberg.