Voting right denied, says visually impaired man

A severely visually impaired man has claimed his right to vote in secret has been breached by the State’s alleged failure to provide an appropriate mechanism allowing him do so.

Robert Sinnott was born with several visual impairment, is totally blind in his left eye and expects to be unable to see at all within four years, the High Court heard.

Despite his disability, Mr Sinnott, with assistance of an educational support worker, a specially developed computer software package and strong visual magnifier, is pursuing a PhD in Irish at Trinity College having previously obtained an Honours Arts degree from UCD and a Higher Diploma in Folklore.