Mother shocked at 'cruelty' of teens who mocked disabled daughter in Kildare restaurant

A local mother has hit out at a group of teenagers who openly mocked her disabled and non-verbal daughter at a restaurant in Newbridge at the weekend.

The woman took to a local community Facebook page with a message describing the distressing incident and an appeal to parents to "have a word" if the teens involved were their children.

The distraught mother said: "I was in KFC today (Sunday) at roughly half 3 with my disabled non verbal daughter. While we were having our food, my daughter got overstimulated and bit my hair.

"Four young teenagers (two boys and two girls) across the way started laughing and starting at us. I can understand nervous laughter but when it continued I asked them would they mind not laughing, that she has special needs, even though it is very obvious," she continued.

"They all continued laughing and the worst part of it all was they started imitating her vocalisations. I told them that she had an intellectual disability and was autistic and they continued to mock her and told me it's not their fault that they can't stop laughing.

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"They then went outside and started at us through the window. I was so upset at the cruelty of them that I started crying. In fairness to them, two of the boys came back in an apologised, but I believe it was only because I got upset."

The woman went on to appeal to parents in the area: "I'm posting this in the hopes that the parents might know who it was and have a word with them.

"Luckily this is not a regular thing and most people are very kind. A nice teenager offered for us to go in front of him in the queue in Sundae Scoops yesterday. We said no but I thought that was so nice," she added.

The post sparked a furious reaction from followers who were outraged at what the woman and her daughter had to face in the town.

One woman said: "That's the next generation coming up, imagine!!! Well done to their mams and dads! Probably haven't a clue where they even are. Sorry you and your daughter had to put up with that."

Another said: "This makes me so sad and sick to my stomach. Shame on them! A life ahead of them with children of their own to bear! Thank God for teenagers like the one in Sundae Scoops."

A third wrote: "So sorry that you and your daughter had to go through this. As a mum to four kids on the spectrum, one been non verbal, I can say I've had my fair share of this behaviour, not just from other kids but from adults aswell - the looks, the remarks, the comments but I've learnt it takes a really special person to be blessed with children like mine. I carry my cross alone but won't change it for the world, austim parents are true heroes."