COUNTY Councillor Gabriel Cronnelly with his prosthetic leg at his home near Athenry. Photo: Ray Ryan

Disabled people punished for working, claims local Cllr

High cost of prosthetic limbs

DISABILITY rights advocate and local county councillor Gabe Cronnelly claims people with disabilities are “being punished for working” by having their medical cards revoked after passing an earnings threshold set out at national level.

Cllr Cronnelly, who lost his right leg following a shotgun accident back in 2009, recently coughed up €6,000 for a new knee for his prosthetic leg and wanted to shed some light on the expenses incurred by people living with disabilities, who simply wish to seek employment but under the current system would make a significant loss as a result.

“People are being punished for having a disability when they’re trying to work,” stated the Athenry-based councillor.

Read the full story in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald, on sale in shops and online www.tuamherald.ie