Mum of student Jack O'Sullivan reveals 'renewed area of interest'

Jack's mum Catherine O'Sullivan says she has been forced to take matters into her own hands as she claims the police have not done enough to hunt for her son.

The 23-year-old, from Flax Bourton, vanished without trace after being last seen at 3.15am on Saturday, March 2 in the area of Brunel Lock Road/Brunel Way, in Bristol.

Catherine said the family had enlisted the services of a specialist dog team who are retracing the areas from where he was last seen to the four miles back to the family home.

And she said a report had been filed after three dogs all got 'agitated' at one location on the A370 bypass. 

Avon and Somerset Police said the searches in the area are currently ongoing.

Missing Jack O'Sullivan. (Image: Catherine O'Sullivan/SWNS)

Catherine, 52, said: "What we did ourselves a couple of weeks ago is we got in touch with specialist search dog teams.

"They have visited Bristol now three times. We put in a plan based on where Jack was last seen with the limited amount of information we have got from police.

"It has been really difficult getting them to share information and we did not want to waste time going over the same areas. But police would not tell us where they had looked so we started from scratch.

"The dog teams have searched logical areas on Jack's route home. An area was identified during the search. It was an area of concern and the dogs were a bit agitated. We went to the police with the information.

"It is the maddest thing. The police are not helping us so we have to do things ourselves. 

"The team we are using are accredited and police use them. They are working their way through from the centre of Bristol to where we live four miles away."

Catherine said the area was between where Jack was last seen on the bridge and the family home on the A370 bypass.

She described it as "really hard to access and the traffic is fast flowing."

She added: "It is one route home that Jack potentially could have tried to walk.

"My suggestion on the first day was police go and search that area - but they were just convinced he did not get that far.

"I have suggested throwing myself in a bush just to raise awareness.

"Three police dogs all indicated an area. The search team said it wouldn't be enough to immediately plough in and tear apart - but the suggestion was to go in there and look - could be item of clothing.

"There was enough to make them want to report it. Police told us they had to put it to the review team. But it was a full week before they went out.

"They said they had put it up for consideration and were going to look into it. But it was all really vague and they won't say when or how it is being done.

"I am aghast we have had to wait so long. An hour is a long time in my book."

Catherine also said that while the scale of the support from the community is overwhelming, she is continuing to be targeted by a troll who is 'blackmailing' her and demanding a ransom for information. 

She has reported the individual to police but says she received another message from him just this morning (Wednesday).

She added: "I have forwarded the details to the police. I don't believe what they are say but he is demanding money for answers. That is blackmail and extortion. 

"It seriously needs looking at. Not that they know anything but what they are doing is so bad. 

"He told me today he was not happy I had gone to the police.

"So they must have contacted him but he still feels the need to contact me again. I've blocked his phone number but he is sending me stuff via Facebook again.

"I am half leaving open the lines of communication to gather evidence against him."

Avon and Somerset Police said the search on the A370 was ongoing and that since Jack's disappearance, more than 20 different teams and departments have been involved in the investigation.

A spokesperson said: "Detectives met with the family last Monday (September 9) at their home to discuss the investigation as well as any areas of concern or questions the family had.

"During this meeting, the family explained a search had been carried out by a volunteer specialist search dog in an area of the A370 which had ‘shown an interest’.
 
"Officers requested a copy of the report so that they could look and consider searching this area, as it is outside the established search area and there has been no video evidence of Jack in that area.

"The O’Sullivan’s sent this report on Monday evening following the meeting.

 "On Tuesday (Sept 10), DCI Filippsen responded to the family confirming receipt of the report and advising them he would pass it along to the independent Police Search Advisor (PolSA) to review and consider.

"On Thursday evening (Sept 12), DCI Filippsen confirmed with the family confirming that the report was with the PolSA and plans were being put in place for searches to be carried out.

"On Monday (Sept 16), DCI Filippsen confirmed with the family that we would be deploying the dogs no later than yesterday (Wednesday, Sept 18). Searches have been taking place since Monday."

In regards to the troll, the police said: "We have requested the O’Sullivan’s share with us the communications and details of the person so that we can carry out enquiries relating to this."

A spokesperson said more than 100 hours of CCTV have been reviewed, 200 hours of searches on the river and the surrounding banks, mounted police searches from Bristol city centre to Flax Bourton, 40 land searches, and 16 drone deployments.

The force says it has received almost 100 calls from the public with possible sightings, and eight media appeals have been issued.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: "Our staff and officers remain committed to doing everything we can to find Jack and we do not underestimate what a distressing time this has been, and continues to be, for his family.

"When I look at missing persons investigations [in Avon and Somerset] over the last year, we've had around five and a half thousand.

"Missing people are somebody's loved ones, they're somebody's family, and we don't close the door on that."