‘Deirdre Jacob's parents deserve to know the truth’: Appeal on 25th anniversary of disappearance

Gardaí, as well as the parents of missing Newbridge woman Deirdre Jacob, have released a renewed appeal on the 25th anniversary of the college student's disappearance.

Garda Superintendent Paul Burke was accompanied by Michael and Bernadette Jacob at a press conference held in Newbridge Town Hall on Friday afternoon.

Deirdre would be 43 years old this year.

A number of photographs of Deirdre Jacob and screenshots of CCTV footage showing Deirdre on the last day she was seen were on display during the conference, in addition to a photograph of a black CAT bag, an item that Deirdre was spotted with in the CCTV footage.

Michael and Bernadette Jacob alongside photographs showing Deirdre Jacob and CCTV footage from the day of her disappearance. Photo by Aishling Conway.

Supt Burke opened with a brief rundown of the facts of her disappearance: on July 28, 1998, he said that Deirdre had walked into Newbridge town to get a bank draft to send to a college friend in London.

Then, at 2.14pm, she was observed on CCTV walking down the Main Street of Newbridge.

At approximately 2.18pm, she was observed in the AIB bank getting a £100 bank draft and leaves the bank shortly after.

At 2.26pm, Deirdre is observed queeining in the Post Office in Newbridge, and at 2.32pm, she is observed on CCTV speaking with a friend outside of the Post Office.

At 2.35pm, Deirdre is seen in front of the Permanent TSB bank in Newbridge, and again shortly after 3pm near her home in Roseberry, Newbridge.

Supt Burke then read out a description of Deirdre Jacob.

Regarding the investigation into Deirdre, Supt Burke said: "There has been a 25-year investigation into Deirdre's disappearance, during which significant enquiries have been carried out to establish where her whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances in which she disappeared.

"On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance, An Garda Síochána confirmed that the missing person investigation had been upgraded to a murder investigation.

"An Garda Síochána has submitted an investigation file on the murder of Deirdre Jacob to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). No prosecution has been directed to date."

Supt Burke with Michael and Bernadette Jacob. Photo by Aishling Conway.

Supt Burke continued: "The murder investigation continues to be conducted by gardaí from the Kildare Garda District, under a Senior Investigating Officer.

"Over the past 25 years, the investigation team have discovered and collated in excess of 5,000 documents and reports, have taken in excess of 300 statements, and we have retained a large number of exhibits.

"A Family Liason Officer for the last 25 years has kept in contact and updated Deirdre's family."

Supt Burke further said that he was at the conference to 'appeal for any information in relation to her murder; that they are to contact the Garda Investigation Team.'

"I want to speak with any person who met with Deirdre Jacob, spoke to her, or had any interaction with her, on the 28th of July, 1998, or subsequently.

"I firmly believe that there are persons, or person, who has information on the disappearance of Deirdre. Do you recognise yourself in the queue in the Post Office? Do you recognise anybody else? If so, you can contact us at Kildare Garda Station or Newbridge Garda Station."

Referring to the CAT bag, Supt Burke said: "I want to speak with any person who has any information on the black satchel-type bag with long shoulder straps and the word C-A-T in large, yellow capital letters on the side, which Deirdre was in possession of when she went missing."

He continued: "The primary focus of the investigation, for me, the Senior Investigating Officer, and the guards of Kildare, is Deirdre Jacob, and her family... Deirdre's parents, Michael and Bernadette, and the rest of her family, deserve to know the truth.

"I and the investigation team are determined to find out the truth.

"The investigation will continue and 25 years on, we believe that, with the passage of time, we believe that a person or persons may have information that will be able to help us in this case.

"I would urge any person or persons with information in relation to the murder of Deirdre Jacob to please come forward to either the investigation team at Kildare Garda Station at 045-521-222, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111, Crimestoppers at 1800-250-025, or any Garda Station."

Concluding his statement, Supt Burke said: "I appeal to any person who has information about Deirdre's murder not to assume that we know and/or that it is of limited value: let us make that decision."

Michael Jacob, who gave a statement earlier this week, gave a second statement at the conference.

He said: "We would like to strenuously encourage anyone that has information or who knows someone who has information to please come forward.

"Even with the passage of time, the gardaí will take that information in a very sensitive way, and people do hold old information for long periods of time, but there always comes a time when they become uneasy with that information, and we are encouraging these people or person to come forward, because any scrap of information may make the difference."

Michael Jacob also pointed to the large body of work done by gardaí so far in the case, and added: "It's waiting for a couple of extra pieces to piece it all together, to find out what happened to Deirdre, where she is, and to bring her home."

After Michael Jacob concluded his statement, Bernadette Jacob said: "As Michael was saying, we just want to find Deirdre and to find out what happened to her, and we appeal to people to help us in that respect.

"She has been missing for 25 years and it's is quite a long time, and hopefully someone out there will be able to help us."

When the gardaí were asked questions, one person asked if anyone has been arrested in connection to the case, Supt Burke said that: "We have consulted with the DPP on numerous occasions. I cannot definitely say anything about suspects, as it could jeopardise anything going forward, but I will say that a file is with the DPP, and it is a live investigation."

Another person asked Michael and Bernadette Jacob if they had their own theory about what happened to Deirdre Jacob, and if so, what would they like to say to them, which prompted a separate garda to reiterate that An Garda Síochána cannot discuss suspects.

When the parents why they felt it was important to speak out, Michael replied: "We try every year when this week comes around, or if we get any opportunity, we try to appeal to the general public.

"We are convinced that the information is out there, and we feel that the more we try to keep Deirdre's case alive, the better chance we have at getting that piece of information. We will never slack in any way, we will strive all the time.

"We never get tired of making the same appeal, and we would encourage whoever has that information to come forward, and we feel also that by encouraging people to talk about Deirdre's case, whether it's in a shop, a pub, or a football match or whatever, to talk about the case, and in some way, you may disturb someone a little bit and they could come forward with information. We will always keep that up."

Supt Burke added: "A small bit of information could crack this case, and we firmly believe that there is someone out there with information, and they haven't come forward yet, or we have already spoken to, but haven't given us that information yet."

Michael Jacob also said: "Every day is difficult for us, even today, as we were driving out our gateway, it comes to your mind: 'that's the last spot that Deirdre was seen on the 28th of July, 1998.' 

"As we're driving up the road or back ups towards the house, it comes into your mind; you're conscious of people who spotted her on her last journey that day."

"There has been many, many family occasions over the last 25 years, where photographs have been taken and people are in good form, but in among the middle of all that, we will spot the gap that is left behind by Deirdre not being there.

"It has been extremely painful, and it will continue to be so, and our only hope is that we will find that piece of information, maybe very, very small, that we can piece it together and bring a resolution to Deirdre's case."

DESCRIPTION

Deirdre Jacob was 5 foot 3 inches in height, of slim build with grey/green eyes and dark chin length hair.

When she went missing on July 28, 1998, Deirdre was wearing a navy v-neck t-shirt with a white trim on collar and sleeves, navy or black straight jeans and blue Nike runners.

Deirdre was carrying a distinctive black satchel-type back with long shoulder straps and the word CAT in large yellow capital letters on the side. 

The black satchel bag has never been located.