Call for better elderly protection

TOUGH new laws are needed to crack down on the growing problem of elder abuse according to national lobby group for the aged, Age Action Ireland.

The call for new legislation comes in the wake of revelations that officials investigating cases of elder abuse have seen 1,500 referrals in the past year.

The statistics, published last week by the Health Service Executive (HSE), show about 10% of these cases have led to consultation with gardaí.