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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Rebecca Daly

What's the latest in the Bernadette Connolly search? Daughter gives update after new footage emerges

The daughter of missing woman Bernadette Connolly has asked people along the North County Dublin coast to keep an eye out for anything that could be related to the case ahead of the month anniversary of her mother's disappearance.

It comes as new footage emerged of Bernadette’s last known whereabouts.

Jade Connolly has urged people to keep her mother in mind this weekend as she attempts to piece together information on the last day Bernadette was seen, January 7.

Jade said her mum “went about her usual routine” the morning she went missing - having her breakfast, making some for her parents and cleaning ahead of the weekend.

She then told her dad, Jade’s grandad, that she fancied heading out for some fresh air.

Following this, Bernadette took a bus to Swords Main Street and a taxi to the coast at Donabate, where she was picked up by CCTV at the Shoreline Hotel.

“She did say to the taxi man that she was meeting a friend. That’s what he has mentioned when he gave his statement to the gardai,” Jade told Pat Kenny on his Newstalk show.

Her movements after this include walking down the end of the beach and taking a photo of the Grand Hotel in Malahide across the way.

New CCTV footage that has been given to Jade shows her mam walking back along the beach at 12:46. It was captured by a house near the car park of the beach in Malahide.

Jade said: “I was told that the probability of seeing her on CCTV would be rare but it’s proved that it’s possible.”

“I have to remain hopeful.”

There are so many questions surrounding this case, as Jade pointed out. There has been no evidence to suggest that Bernadette is on land or in the water.

“We’re open-minded about the whole thing because obviously some items have been found but we’ve no evidence to suggest that she’s in the sea either,” Jade said.

“There’s just so many different options. Was it a tragic accident, that the waves got too strong and pulled her in when she was paddling her feet?

“There are so many things to think about. All I know is that I need to keep going with this.”

Not knowing the truth is the worst part, according to Jade, who said: “If you did know, you could try and learn to grieve, have her back and give her what she deserves.

“For all I know, she could have went off with a friend, that this friend knows that all this is going on.

“You’re trying to be optimistic but also I’m not in denial about a situation either. Until I have her, I can’t give up.

“I can’t sit back and not do anything because that’s just not me.”

Jade described her mum’s disappearance as a “total shock” as it would not be in her nature to just leave.

“She’s a loyal, kind, caring, independent person and nobody could ever have imagined this happening.”

Bernadette Connolly wearing clothes similar to those she was last seen in (instagram.com)

Jade is appealing to anyone along the North County Dublin coast to “keep their eyes peeled” this weekend, ahead of the month anniversary of her mam’s disappearance. She is asking people even as far up as Bettystown and Drogheda to keep an eye out.

“We’re trying to keep word of mouth out there with posters and we still have guys going out with drones over the land. We have people going out in boats up along the coast.

“Please just keep her in mind,” she said.

Bernadette is 5 foot 6 inches in height with a slim build, hazel eyes and long black hair. She was last seen wearing a black Nike training top, black Nike leggings, black trainers with a white sole, and a black woolly bobble hat.

Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone with any information on Bernadette’s whereabouts to contact Swords Garda Station 01 666 4700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

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