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Aakanksha Surve & Emma Nevin

Bernadette Connolly case to be highlighted on RTE Crimecall

Tonight's Crimecall episode will highlight the disappearance of missing Swords woman Bernadette Connolly.

The 45-year-old was last seen walking towards Donabate Strand from the Shoreline Hotel on January 7.

Bernadette got a taxi from Swords to Donabate that morning and was picked up on CCTV on the Shoreline Hotel's cameras.

Crimecall is a monthly programme on RTE which appeals to members of the public to help An Garda Siochana solve ongoing investigations.

Bernadette's daughter Jade wrote on Instagram on Sunday night: "My mam Bernadette Connolly's case will be highlighted on Crimecall tomorrow at 9:35pm on RTE One.

"I'm still appealing to anyone who was on the Donabate beach on Friday the 7th of January or the Malahide side looking over.

"Does anyone remember seeing a woman with a hot pink towel."

Jade held a press conference on Friday morning at Donabate Beach where she said her mam was in "great form" on the morning of January 7.

She said: "My mam's form was great [that morning].

"She went about her usual routine. She made my granny and grandad their breakfast and said she was popping out."

Bernadette got a taxi from Swords to Donabate that morning and was picked up on CCTV on the Shoreline Hotel's cameras.

Jade said: "[The taxi driver] asked her where she wanted to go and she said she wanted to out to the hotel by the beach. He asked her if she worked out there and she said no and that she was meeting friends.

"She got out of that taxi at 11.56am and at 11.58am took a few steps behind where we are and walked down the end of that beach."

Bernadette Connolly (@jadeybaby338 Instagram)

While Bernadette's bag and jacket were found on the beach, Jade said there was an item missing from her wardrobe that she may have been wearing on the day - a black Nike top with a big white swoosh tick.

She added: "The phone was found in the coat pocket. There was a photo on her phone that she had taken at 12.38pm and that was a photo of the Malahide grounds within view.

"It was a lovely nice day, it was sunny in the photograph so it was a nice, happy photograph."

Jade said Bernadette would "ring all the time" so when she got a call at work saying she was missing it was "a total, total shock".

She appealed to anyone who may have any information including photographs, dashcam, or CCTV footage of the area from that day particularly near the end of the beach where the Malahide car park is.

She said: "Nollaig na mBan was on January 6, also known as 'Women's Christmas' or 'Little Christmas'.

"My mam went missing the next day. We're trying to get the significance of the day out there for people to remember.

Bernadette Connolly (Garda Press Office)

"This beach was active that day. People walked by my mam with dogs, people walked before my mam. I'm just appealing to anyone who may have photographs of the beach that day or any dashcam footage - maybe even CCTV if there was a house nearby that you can see."

She added: "Things have been found but how hasn't nobody seen anything when this is an active beach even on the opposite side there.

"I took that walk dozens of times and I could always see something from that Malahide car park side.

"So how no one has seen anything is just really beyond me which is why I'm here to appeal to people that no matter how little a detail they have, to say something. Please, it's not little. Anything will help."

Bernadette was wearing a black Nike training top, black Nike leggings, and black trainers with a white sole and a black woolly hat with black bobble when she went missing from Swords on January 7.

Bernadette is described as being 5 foot 6 inches in height with a slim build, hazel eyes and long black hair.

Anyone with information on Bernadette’s whereabouts, has been urged to call Swords Garda Station 01 666 4700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

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