Joan Dallimore was the mother of Monica Gallagher. Joan appeared in Episode 9 of Series 5, after having no contact with her daughter in over twenty years. Debbie claimed that Frank and Monica originally told the Gallagher children that Joan was long ago murdered by a jealous lover in Rio de Janeiro, because they didn't want them to meet her. Shortly after her arrival in Chatsworth, it was revealed that Joan had Alzheimers. Joan would later die in the episode after over-dosing on sleeping pills.