Hollywood star Farrell criticises special needs support

Hollywood star Colin Farrell has criticised the State’s failure to adequately support special needs facilities, saying there should be one in every town in Ireland.

As the father of a child with Angelman syndrome, the actor said it was a true honour to care for someone with special needs, but he said it can really put parents under a lot pressure.

He was speaking during a visit to the Home from Home facility near Killarney. It was set up in 2009 by parents and relatives of people with special needs who recognised the need for after-school care to both stimulate special needs children and allow parents time to focus on the requirements of their other children, for example doing homework.