Call for designated shopping hours for elderly after Cork pensioner targeted

Teenagers stole woman's handbag as she shopped in Dunnes Stores in Blackpool on Tuesday morning

Elderly rights campaigner Paddy O'Brien: The effect a callous crime like this can have on older people is appalling. It can affect them for the rest of their lives.' Picture: Jim Coughlan

A leading elderly rights campaigner has called on large shopping centres to introduce "designated safe and secure shopping hours" for older people after thieves targeted a pensioner in the aisles of her local supermarket.

Paddy O’Brien, who has spent over 60 years advocating for older people, made the suggestion on Friday after details on a robbery in Cork City emerged.