Couple target legal loophole for disabled

A KERRY couple are receiving Europe-wide support in their campaign to close a loophole in Irish law that is failing to support disabled victims of sex offences in court.

Noel and Ann Kelly from Ballybunion are seeking protection for all disabled people after a shortcoming in the 1992 Criminal

Evidence Act meant their daughter, Laura, who has Down syndrome, was forced to give evidence of the same standard as someone without special needs in the trial of a Lithuanian man who was accused of sexually assaulting her in 2006.