'€100k stolen from dementia patient — but gardaí cannot act due to gaps in safeguarding law'

The Irish Association of Social Workers and Safeguarding Ireland warned of widespread financial abuse — much of it within families — of people with debilitating conditions. Picture: iStock

A dementia sufferer had over €100,000 stolen from his bank account — but gardaí could not act because of gaps in safeguarding legislation, the Oireachtas has been told.

The victim had no capacity to report the crime and agencies representing vulnerable people have told of the “absolute nightmare” of trying to force action in such cases.