Mum was thrilled with all the attention...the belle of the ball

Daughter says how OAPS treated 'shocking' | Paula hopes lessons learned for the future

- DANNY DE VAAL

THE daughter of the first woman to get vaccinated in Ireland has described the treatment of old people during Covid as "shocking".

Paula Lynch's mum Annie made headlines across the country when she got jabbed against Covid-19 in St James's Hospital in December 2020.

The Dubliner spoke to the Irish Mirror to mark the fifth anniversary of the pandemic which shut down the country.

Paula revealed her mum Annie and her dad John, who have both since passed away, were in hospital during the height of the restrictions and said the whole ordeal left her "shell-shocked".

She explained her dad had dementia and was taken into hospital on March 19, 2020, and didn't get close to him again for a couple of months, describing the period as "horrific".

During the intervening months, Paula revealed she climbed on a wall outside the hospital to see her dad who was being treated on the second floor.

She explained: "I could see him getting agitated, I could see the nurse trying to tell him I was outside the window and he wanted to come to me but he couldn't." Paula told how she was eventually allowed to see him in person after a couple of months but was told she would need to wear protective clothing.

She added: "I was told I could come in and see him for a few minutes and I could come down but I would need to be PPE'd up.