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DNA search Nolan sisters reveal how their mum confronted their dad's pregnant mistress

The Nolan sisters, Anne, Maureen, Coleen, Denise and Linda. Expand

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The Nolan sisters, Anne, Maureen, Coleen, Denise and Linda.

The Nolan sisters, Anne, Maureen, Coleen, Denise and Linda.

Quest Red

The Nolan sisters, Anne, Maureen, Coleen, Denise and Linda.

Eddie Rowley

SINGER Maureen Nolan of The Nolans has spoken of the moment her pregnant mother confronted her dad’s mistress — and discovered that she too was expecting her husband Tommy’s child.

Maureen says her mum, also Maureen, revealed the information to her family a couple of years before she died in 2007.

Speaking to the Sunday World this week, Maureen says: “My mum, who was pregnant at the time with our sister, Denise, went to the woman’s house. When she opened up the door she saw that the woman was also pregnant.

“Mum handled it very well. She absolutely adored our dad. He couldn’t do any wrong in her eyes. She would never have censured him over it because she loved him.

“Mum told me and the rest of the family after our dad died that we had a sister in Ireland. She was very grown up about it. She wanted us to meet her, and she really wanted to meet her as well, which I thought was very big of her.”

In 1962, the Nolan family of four sisters and two brothers moved with their parents to Blackpool, where Loose Women panellist Coleen was born.

The five sisters would go on to have a string of hits.

They recently launched a search for their half sister who would now be 68 years old. Maureen said: “Mum gave me the name of our sister’s mother and I wrote it in a diary. That was years and years ago and I can’t find it or remember the name.

“I did give the name to my brother, Tommy, who looked into it and he did narrow it down to what he thought might be two women, but then he didn’t follow through. He thought we should leave well enough alone.

“Denise also felt the same. She felt that if our sister’s mother was still alive and had never told her about us it might destroy their relationship. But we’re hoping that it will all work out, and if she doesn’t want to meet us that’s fine.”

The Nolans are hoping to get a breakthrough in the case through an ancestry DNA network.

On their new Quest Red TV series, At Home With The Nolans, Maureen is filmed submitting a DNA sample.

“Please God something will come up, and then there will be a decision on her part. It will be her choice then, but we will welcome her with open arms,.”

Meanwhile, Anne Nolan has revealed that she’s cancer free after recent treatment for breast cancer. Her sister, Linda, who was also diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, is awaiting results after her chemotherapy treatment.

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