"We know she is lying somewhere" - what Deirdre Jacob's dad said in heartbreaking interview on 25th anniversary of disappearance
A major new appeal was issued in 2023
"We have one mission and that is to find Deirdre. We know she is lying somewhere" - those were the words of Michael Jacob - the father of Deirdre Jacob - on the 25th anniversary of her disappearance in 2023.
The brave family have carried a consistent hope since July 1998 that Deirdre would be found.
It must be a very difficult time for family and friends as the search on the Kildare / Wicklow border continues for a third day today.
On the 25th anniversary, a Garda press conference to renew appeals for information was held in Newbridge and a prayer service was also organised in St Conleth's Church in the town.
Michael Jacob said at the time to the Leinster Leader: "We are hoping that people will think deeply about Deirdre around the 25th anniversary and that somebody holding that small but vital piece of information will bring it to gardaí.
"We believe there is at least one person holding onto information, and now is the time to get it off their chest and come forward.
"There may be changes that have happened in 25 years and somebody might feel that now is the time to take action.
"We know this has happened in other investigations and we are hoping that it will happen in this one.
"A very small piece of information, however insignificant, even something that was overheard in conversation, could unlock the mystery and solve the disappearance.
"This person may not realise the importance of this information, and might think it won't make any difference, but we are asking them to bring it to gardaí and to let them decide.
"I know that the gardaí will treat this person with all the sensitivity and sympathy that is required."
The young Co Kildare woman vanished from the roadside close to her family home just outside Newbridge on July 28th, 1998.
The teenager was studying in London to become a primary school teacher.
The missing persons case was upgraded to a murder investigation in 2018.
Michael also insisted that his family remains totally committed to finding Deirdre.
He continued: "We have one mission and that is to find Deirdre. We know she is lying somewhere. We would love to have her back. It would bring a mighty satisfaction.
"But of course it would never bring closure as that word doesn't make sense in this case.
"It would never answer all the 'whys' that we have."
Michael encouraged people to keep Deirdre in their thoughts in the days around the anniversary and to initiate conversations about the student in the hope that it may unearth new information.
He added: "25 years is a long, long time. We have gone through a lot of heartache. And at every family occasion, Deirdre is missing, and that is deeply felt by all of us."