Local campaigner abused after Stormont appearance

A LOCAL disability rights campaigner says he was abused by social media trolls after appearing at Stormont last week.

Dermot Devlin, from Greencastle, received ‘derogatory comments’ following his high profile appearance at the first ever Disabled Persons Parliament.

Mr Devlin, founder of My Way Access, spoke on the issue of Article 27 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He particularly referenced the need to implement recommendations on work and employment for disabled people into law.

Afterwards, Mr Devlin said he was subjected to abuse on Twitter but vowed that ‘a tiny minority’ will not prevent him from continuing to stand up for the rights and interests of those with disabilities.

“Unfortunately, it’s the way it is… that those who put their head up to speak out often get derogatory comments directed back at them,” he said.

“Perhaps in the past something like this would have had a negative effect, but now I don’t let it bother me too much.

“I’d encourage people to keep speaking out because the consequences of not doing so are far worse than anything these trolls can say.”

Mr Devlin hopes the first Disabled Peoples Parliament at Stormont will inspire similar events in the future.

“We feel that there is finally a mechanism to ensure that people with disabilities are accepted in society,” he added.

“The conversation has been started now and the aim is to build on what took place at Stormont.”