Fury as alarm budget for elderly halved

The Government has halved the budget for providing personal security alarms to the elderly, despite a spate of recent attacks on older people in their own homes.

Funding will now only be available to qualified persons over 65 who are living alone for the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms, to a maximum of €230 per alarm.

Last week, 96-year-old Greta Lilly used such an alarm after an aggravated burglary at her home in Buncrana. A man was yesterday released without charge over the incident.