Loophole allows sex assaults on disabled people

A loophole in the law allows perpetrators to sexually assault people with disabilities with impunity.

A major research project said current legislation only makes certain sexual offences against such victims — such as rape, buggery, and gross indecency — a criminal offence, and that general sexual assaults are not covered.

Academics at University College Cork have called for a range of new offences to cover exploitative sexual activity against people with disabilities.