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Dublin Live
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Amy Fenton & Emma Nevin

Bernadette Connolly's body identified using daughter's DNA after being found in Blackpool, inquest hears

Bernadette Connolly's body was identified after daughter Jade provided a DNA sample.

The body of the missing Swords woman was discovered on a beach in Blackpool in February after going missing in early January.

Police were called to the Promenade in Blackpool at around 3pm on February 4 of this year after the body of a woman was found close to the sea wall, Lancs Live reports.

Read more: Bernadette Connolly: Daughter Jade hails 'beautiful' mum in emotional funeral speech

Detectives suspected it might be the body of Bernadette Mary Connolly, a 49-year-old mum, who had been reported missing and had last been seen on Donabate Beach in Dublin on January 7.

An inquest which opened today at Blackpool Town Hall heard that the body of Bernadette was formally identified on March 3 after her daughter Jade provided a DNA sample.

"Efforts had been ongoing in terms of the identity of the person who had been found but it had always been believed that it was Miss Connolly," Senior Coroner Alan Wilson said.

The inquest opening, which was attended by Jade via video link from Dublin, heard that a post mortem examination had been unable to find a medical cause of death.

The remains are taken from church as family members look on pictured this afternoon at the funeral of 45 year old Bernadette Connolly (Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

"On January 7 your mother had gone missing near Donabate Beach in Dublin," Mr Wilson told Jade.

"In due course efforts were made to establish identity of the person and it was by way of DNA analysis assisted I think by yourself. Positive identification was confirmed on March 3.

"We were then in a position to release your mother to the family for the funeral."

A full inquest is scheduled to take place in Blackpool on July 12.

Bernadette's funeral took place in St Cronan's Church, Swords yesterday.

A guard of honour was formed outside the church by her colleagues at Dublin Airport, where she worked for 17 years.

Jade told mourners her mother "brought so much love, light and laughter" into people's lives and recalled the night she first went missing.

She said: "Mam, I will never forget the day, the day that changed all of our lives forever. Being told you were missing, last seen on a beach, the sense of helplessness that we all felt.

"Police, helicopters, boats, drones, sniffer dogs, men on horses trying to find you."

Jade said her mother's voice came to her and said "don't give up".

Jade Connolly, daughter of Bernadette Connolly (centre) looks on as her mother's remains are carried from church pictured this afternoon at the funeral of 45 year old Bernadette Connolly, (Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

"That night I stayed up looking outside your bedroom window, hoping to see your face look down the road, hoping this was just a dream," she continued.

"I woke up, this wave came over me, your voice in my ear telling me 'get up, don't give up'.

"A feeling of hope, a light in the dark. It was then that I needed to fight for you and I know you know that's exactly what I did.

"Shouting your name, I would have walked to the end of the earth for you.

"I cannot say I did it alone. Beautiful people, they opened their hearts to us, walking alongside our family and friends, all with the common goal of bringing you home.

"Granny and Granddad praying so hard, a nation pulling together to help our family, so much love.

"It was that love that lit a path that brought you back to us and we are so blessed to have you back home again."

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