Gardaí release renewed public appeal ahead of anniversary of missing Kildare woman Deirdre Jacob
The disappearance of Deirdre Jacob was upgraded to a murder investigation back in August of 2018
An Garda Síochána (AGS) has released a renewed public appeal ahead of the anniversary of missing County Kildare woman Deirdre Jacob.
It follows after a dig operation in relation to the investigation, as well as the investigation into missing woman Jo Jo Dullard, was carried out by AGS last month.
Announcing the new update, a spokesperson for AGS said that gardaí, in addition to the family of Deirdre Jacob, are once again appealing to the public for their assistance on the 28th anniversary of her disappearance.
The garda investigation into her disappearance was notably upgraded to a murder investigation in 2018, one month after the 20th anniversary of her disappearance.
The spokesperson explained: “Deirdre Jacob was last seen on Tuesday, July 28, 1998 near her home in Roseberry, Newbridge, at approximately 3pm.
“Deirdre was 18-years-old in 1998; she was a young woman starting off her life, who had just completed one year at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, London.
“Deirdre would be 46-years-old this year.
“Deirdre enjoyed her life in London and was looking forward to returning to college that September.”
LAST SEEN
The spokesperson also outlined a number of key events that occurred on the day that Deirdre Jacob was last seen:
- On the day she went missing, Deirdre had walked into Newbridge town to get a bank draft to send to a college friend in London for their rent deposit
- At 2.14pm Deirdre is observed on CCTV walking on Main Street in Newbridge
- At approximately 2.18pm Deirdre is observed in the AIB bank getting a £100 bank draft and leaves the AIB Bank a short time later
- At 2.26pm Deirdre is observed again on CCTV queuing in the Post Office Newbridge
- At 2.32pm Deirdre is observed on CCTV speaking with a friend outside the Post Office on Main Street in Newbridge
- At 2.35pm the last sighting of Deirdre, on CCTV, is recorded walking outside the PTSB Bank on Main Street in Newbridge
- Deirdre was last seen shortly after 3pm near her family home outside Newbridge
DESCRIPTION
In addition, the spokesperson provided a description which described what Deirdre Jacob looked like when she was last seen.
According to the spokesperson: “Deirdre Jacob was 5’3” in height with a slim build.
“She had 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 the collar and sleeves, navy or black straight jeans and blue Nike runners.
“Deirdre was carrying a distinctive black satchel type bag with long shoulder straps and the word CAT in large yellow capital letters on the side. The black satchel bag has never been located.”
‘SIGNIFICANT ENQUIRIES’
The spokesperson also asserted: “There has been a 28-year investigation into Deirdre’s disappearance, during which significant enquiries have been carried out to establish her whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances in which she disappeared.
“On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance, AGS confirmed that the missing person investigation had been upgraded to a murder investigation. The murder investigation continues to be conducted by Detectives attached to the Kildare Divisional Serious Crime Office, under a Senior Investigating Officer.
“An incident room remains in place at Newbridge Garda Station and AGS regularly update Deirdre’s parents, Michael and Bernadette, and her family through a designated Family Liaison Officer.”
The spokesperson further said that both Deirdre’s family and the garda investigation team are urging any person or persons with information in relation her murder to come forward: “AGS are reminding the public that if you have information about Deirdre’s murder, not to assume that we already know it, or that is has limited value.”
They concluded: “Anyone with information in relation to this investigation should contact the investigation team at Newbridge Garda Station at 045 440 180, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any garda station.”
A full timeline in relation to the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob over the years can be read here.