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Paula Robinson with her Carer of the Year award. Mark Stedman

Cavan woman who provides round-the-clock care for her parents awarded Carer of the Year

Paula Robinson cares for her mother who has Alzheimer’s disease and her dad who has bowel cancer.

A CAVAN WOMAN who cares for her elderly parents every single day received an award for Ireland’s Carer of the Year 2017 today.

Mother-of-two Paula Robinson (48) provides round-the-clock, full-time care for her mother Mary, who has Alzheimer’s, and her father Jimmy, who has bowel cancer.

She has been her parents’ primary carer for eight years, while raising her two children who are now aged 20 and 14.

Robinson sleeps in the same room as her mother to ensure her safety, hand feeds her every meal and is up numerous times every night with both parents.

Her four sisters – who live abroad in America and England – nominated her for the award to say “thank you” for all of the selfless work she does.

Her family described her as an “amazing woman who always puts others first”.

Those present today were just a few of the estimated 360,000 family carers around Ireland.

Others who were recognised at the CarePlus Pharmacy Carer of the Year ceremony today were Liz Forde and Fiona Kelly Campbell.

Forde is a mother of seven children, three of whom have disabilities. Her daughter Ellie has Asperger’s, Gwen requires round-the-clock care for hypomobility syndrome and Cillian lives with brain damage and is peg fed.

Campbell, meanwhile, cares for her three children, and her mother. Her oldest daughter was born with a chronic illness, her youngest son has special needs and all three children require frequent visits to the hospital.

A number of young carers were also picked out for the exceptional contribution.

They included:

  • Jack Cooney (10) from Tipperary. He helps care for his 16-year-old brother, James, who lives with cerebral palsy, is a wheelchair user and requires round-the-clock care.
  • Adam Hyland is 14, and from Clondalkin. He helps his mother care for his dad Pat (66) who has multiple illnesses including dementia, diabetes and chronic pain.
  • Alannah Donnelly (15) is from Offaly and helps care for her 12-year-old brother, Conor. He has intellectual disabilities, and several behavioural issues that result in aggression and harmful behaviour towards others.
  • Alexandra Ajoi (15) is from Sligo. He is the primary carer for her mother, Susan (41), who is a wheelchair user with chronic pain and has epilepsy.

Commenting on those recognised, Catherine Cox, from Family Carers Ireland said: “We host these awards to recognise the huge contribution of our family carers and young carers. It is fantastic to be here today and see 30 carers from counties across Ireland represented to celebrate with their families.”

Read: ‘People who are mentally ill are less likely to be admitted for cancer treatment’

Read: Caring for Mam: ‘Putting myself first is not an option even though I have the most to lose’

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25 Comments
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    Mute Karen
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:14 PM

    I assume they were going to drive onto a premises rather than pop out of the boot on a street?
    Now that would have been a sight to behold.
    Congratulations An Garda Siochana. Pity the judicial system didnt do their jobs as well.

    690
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    Mute Klara Hallinan
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    Mar 17th 2015, 9:36 AM

    I was standing at Goldenbridge luas stop one afternoon last year and a car pulled up on the side of the road alongside the luas stop and the boot popped open, none of us paid any heed, I assumed someone was being dropped off to get the luas, until a man jumped out of the boot, hopped over the railings, ran to the far side of the luas stop, grabbed a rather large handbag off an older woman and ran back across and dived over the railings back into the boot of the car and pulled it closed after himself as the car sped off. All happened so fast I don’t think anyone standing at the luas realised what was happening until after, and all this took place right in the view of the luas stop cctv cameras.

    24
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    Mute Tony Newley
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:16 PM

    What will happen them when they get to court? Nothing! They would get 15 to 20 in the USA. be out in 18 months in Ireland. The Garda catch them, then the courts release them. its just like fishing catch and release. A lawless country a place with no consequences.

    629
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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:21 PM

    15 to 20 seems a bit much.

    53
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    Mute Voteno Voteno
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:25 PM

    Nature or nurture?
    These people have a bad start in life so we need to make some allowance for this.
    We don’t see any rich kids turning to crime its usually poorer people with drug addictions.

    46
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    Mute Karen
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:27 PM

    No rich kids do it white collar crime and get away with it. They also take drugs.

    394
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    Mute Bramley Hawthorne
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:40 PM

    What can they be charged with?
    Not wearing a seat belt will only get them a couple of penalty points.

    105
    John
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    Mute John
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    Mar 16th 2015, 7:17 PM

    @ Voteno Voteno

    What an utterly ridiculous comment trying to make excuses for criminals and crime, are you a defense lawyer by any chance.
    Next time spare a thought for victims before coming out with such tripe

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    Mute Simon
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:11 AM

    no rich kids ever beat anyone to death out side a night club….

    120
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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Mar 17th 2015, 3:19 AM

    Over 300 people believe 15 to 20 years for not being properly seated and in possession of several questionable items is within US sentencing guidelines.

    13
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    Mute Voteno Voteno
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:04 PM

    Great work well done to the Garda.
    The best police force in the world.

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    Mute Warren Collier
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:05 PM

    Haha your a funny troll

    86
    R M
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    Mute R M
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:06 PM

    I agree. The vast majority of the Guards do a fantastic job. They should feel very proud indeed.

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    Mute Voteno Voteno
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:13 PM

    I think we are lucky to have a dedicated unarmed police force

    452
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    Mute Karen
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:16 PM

    I think the Organised crime and drugs unit are infact armed. Having said that we are lucky that they very rarely ever use their guns and i cant recall last time a Garda shot anyone.

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:25 PM

    Great work well done to the Gardaí but let’s not go over the top………

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    Mute T Beckett
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:26 PM

    If SF want to deal with thugs who assault and burgle innocent people up and down the country with slash hooks and sawn-off shotguns, then they’ll get my vote.

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    Mute Tiffany Mary O'Brien
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    Mar 16th 2015, 7:30 PM

    Thought you were an Italian ,Voteno .

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    Mute Tom the Bomb
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    Mar 17th 2015, 9:41 AM

    Karen, you have a short memory

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    Mute Emachine
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:45 PM

    Loving this proactive policing we are seeing lately.

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    Mute david dickson
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:08 PM

    Were they charged as extra baggage?

    132
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    Mute fergal sweeney
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    Mar 16th 2015, 8:08 PM

    Was the meter running on the Taxi?

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    Mute Symbolism
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:46 PM

    The taxi driver will deny all knowledge of the occupants in the boot. And then tell the judge he hasn’t had a fare increase for years.

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    Mute ptriley
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:59 PM

    They’re most likely out on bail as we speak

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    Mute Paul Bracken
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:10 PM

    Gobsh!tes

    61
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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Mar 16th 2015, 11:16 PM

    We have some real characters with taxis in this country.

    59
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    Mute Tom Red
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:08 PM

    Sounds like the Gardai stopped a St Patrick’s Day Banker’s float by mistake ….

    58
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    Mute Nydon
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    Mar 17th 2015, 1:11 AM

    right then lads where r ye off to?
    Umm Booterstown?

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    Mute Peter Murray
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:35 AM

    Should have just impounded the car and to hell with the goons in the boot..

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    Mute Timberdog
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    Mar 16th 2015, 11:15 PM

    Journal…. Men found in “car boot of car”?? Think you need to do a bit of editing

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    Mute Greg Seymour
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    Mar 17th 2015, 1:07 AM

    Good job by the garda the don’t always get it wrong

    23
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    Mute Brianog2
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    Mar 17th 2015, 12:10 AM

    Tip off?

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    Mute joanie
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    Mar 16th 2015, 11:17 PM

    Fancy dress party maybe ?

    15
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    Mute Tim Kearney
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    Mar 17th 2015, 4:29 AM

    Those fecking taxi drivers .. carrying extra passengers in the boot….

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    Mute Anne Gyna
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    Mar 16th 2015, 7:19 PM

    Maybe they were transvestites that just wanted to practise for the Piste? That would account for the ski masks & wigs, and sure the knives might just have have been to pare their apples? Innocent till proven gullty & all that.

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    Mute philobrien
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    Mar 17th 2015, 2:20 AM

    I blame the Catholic Church

    10
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    Mute molly coddled
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    Mar 17th 2015, 1:08 AM

    Sorry, but I just laughed my ar*e off after reading that headline.

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    Mute Lorraine Gardiner
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    Mar 16th 2015, 7:22 PM

    Ha ha ha ha

    6
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    Mute jack frost
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    Mar 16th 2015, 6:56 PM

    They were no nidge’s , bunch of idiots .

    6
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    Mute Ronald Farber
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    Mar 17th 2015, 8:41 AM

    Well done to *these* Gardai, much better job than their colleague, who was pepper spraying the homeless guy, because the force is somewhere between 50-90% sound. That 10-50% though, we gotta do something quick.

    4
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    Mute Ronald Farber
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:38 AM

    Here it is:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xssyCecm2TY
    Let me disrupt the Garda love in…..

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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:42 AM

    The fellas who travel in the boot are usually going to a bog.

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    Mute Ronald Farber
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:49 AM

    Was one of the implements a shovel?

    1
    john
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    Mute john
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    Mar 17th 2015, 1:48 PM

    Interesting the only one not barred (bail condition) from stoneybatter is the taxi driver ….so your taxi driver tonight might be a suspected armed robber

    4
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