Family ‘overwhelmed’ by the community support for Robert
By Maurice Garvey
STAFF at Dunnes Stores in Clondalkin Village raised funds this week to help a former work colleague who was severely injured in a freak accident.
Bawnogue resident Robert O’Sullivan (32), was hit by a car while walking to work in Clondalkin two years ago.
With Robert at Dunnes Stores in Clondalkin are Gail Hennessy, Edward Colgan (Peamount Hospital), Bernie Fox (Robert’s mother), Richard O’Sullivan (Robert’s father), Marie Donohoe (HR Manager Dunnes), Kathleen Buckley, John Conway (Dunnes Stores Manager), Sarah Leddy and Lorraine Power
On the morning of August 29, 2017, Robert was on his way to Dunnes in the Mill Shopping Centre, where he worked for 11 years, when suddenly he was hit by a car, an accident that has left him with multiple serious injuries.
The impact of the Ninth Lock Road accident was so severe that it propelled Robert onto another car which was passing by on the opposite side of the road.
This week, staff in Dunnes Stores held bucket collections at the tills, in an effort to raise funds to buy a mini-van, to allow Robert’s family to bring him for outings.
“The support all week has been amazing,” said Kathleen Buckley, a Dunnes employee and chief organiser of the fundraiser.
Following the accident, Robert spent much of the next two years between Beaumont/Tallaght Hospital and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire, as doctors treated a significant brain injury and carried out numerous operations.
In recent months, he was moved to Peamount and “is coming on leaps and bounds there,” said Laura Buckley, a friend of Robert.
Robert and his family attended the Dunnes in Clondalkin on Thursday, which provided many in the centre the opportunity to wish him good luck.
Bernie Fox, Robert’s mother, was “overwhelmed’ with the “unbelievable support.”
“A mini-van would mean we could take him out without having to rely on the hospital – even if it is just for an hour,” she said.
“We were so lucky to get him into Peamount Hospital. They have been the answer to all our prayers.”
Dunnes staff paid tribute to all of the many local businesses and residents who have contributed to the campaign.
By Tuesday evening, they had raised €8,300, and Dunnes donated €1,700 to round it up to €10,000.
Friends of Robert and local residents have already raised over €11k for his extensive care requirements over the last two years.
