Summer Bay has never seen a twist like this. In a bombshell storyline set to rock Home and Away fans to their core, sisters Harper and Dana Matheson are about to discover a devastating truth that will change everything they thought they knew about their family – and potentially tear them apart forever.

Insiders have confirmed that the woman who raised the pair – a character we’ve only heard whispers about in passing – is none other than the mysterious woman responsible for one of Irene Roberts’ darkest chapters. That’s right: the same woman who nearly ruined Irene’s life years ago is now back… and she’s Harper and Dana’s mother.

Fans will remember that Irene (played by the legendary Lynne McGranger) has always hinted at a dark past she’d rather forget, but upcoming episodes will unearth a harrowing connection that puts her back in the firing line. Sources close to production say the storyline will revisit a chilling incident from Irene’s past involving stolen identities, fraud, and a betrayal that left emotional scars she still carries.

Now, that past is coming back to haunt her – and it’s walking straight through the doors of the Diner in the form of the girls’ estranged mum, whose arrival in Summer Bay is said to be anything but a happy family reunion.

“This storyline is going to completely flip the dynamic between Irene, Harper, and Dana,” one set insider reveals. “Just when you think Irene has finally found peace, someone comes in and rips the rug out from under her. It’s going to get very messy.”

Viewers have already warmed to Harper (Jessica Redmayne) and Dana (Ally Harris), who have fast become fan favourites for their strength, loyalty, and down-to-earth charm. But their tight sisterly bond could be tested like never before as secrets begin to spill — and they learn that the mother they’ve tried to forget is not only alive… but carrying a past drenched in deception and destruction.

So what exactly did their mother do to Irene? That’s the million-dollar question. While producers are keeping tight-lipped about the details, whispers on set suggest it may involve a years-old con job that left Irene financially and emotionally shattered — something she’s never fully recovered from.

Will Irene be able to forgive the daughters of the woman who betrayed her? And how will Harper and Dana cope with the horrifying truth about their mother’s dark legacy?

One thing is certain — Summer Bay is about to be turned upside down.

Stay tuned to Home and Away as this explosive storyline unfolds — and prepare for a revelation that will have the Bay talking for years to come.