Video of assault of special needs boy in Cork posted online

A boy with special needs in Cork was allegedly filmed being forced to swallow twigs and expose himself for a video that was subsequently posted on Facebook.

Details of the video emerged on the Cork 96FM phone-in show The Opinion Line on Tuesday, although the incident itself is said to have happened in the last number of days.

Karen O’Mahoney from a support group for parents with children with autism and special needs said the video clip had been brought to her attention by a distressed parent. It was subsequently removed from Facebook.

The video reportedly shows a group of teenagers - including girls - forcing twigs into the boy’s mouth and making him expose himself in an area of Carrigaline

Gardaí confirmed they are aware of the incident but have not received a formal complaint. As is standard procedure, a complaint is required before alleged offences can be investigated.

“It was shocking to hear that a group of teenagers could be capable of this and put this young chap in such a vulnerable situation. It’s very distressing,” Ms O’Mahony told radio DJs PJ Coogan and Deirdre O’Shaughnessy.

“This poor chap he was just in a very vulnerable position [which] he could not obviously handle and taken complete advantage of.

“I would hope for his sake that he’s not too traumatised but I think the parents are very, very traumatised.”

Ms O’Mahony, organiser of the Masquerade Ball which raises funds to support children with autism and their families, said she was attempting to contact the family of the boy following the response of other “distraught and very upset” parents to the video.

“We have so many parents that fear this happening,” she said. “It’s not that you are thinking everyone is like that but your fear is that one incident could happen to your child.”