Mum of Jack O’Sullivan has had ‘no support from the authorities’ in the search for her son

Mum of missing student Jack O’Sullivan says the family has “no support from the authorities that should be helping'” find him.

Catherine O’Sullivan says she ”will not give up until I get an answer” to what happened to her son.

Jack O’Sullivan, the 23-year-old Exeter graduate, went missing at 3:51am on Saturday 2nd March.

He was last seen in the area of Brunel Lock Road/Brunel Way.

via SWNS

Seven months later, despite witness accounts, CCTV footage, text messages, and GPS data, Jack’s disappearance remains a mystery to the police.

The family have previously criticised the police for a lack of findings in their investigations of Jack’s disappearance.

A Facebook group “Find Jack” has since been made to gain more attention around his disappearance in search for answers.

Catherine recently posted on the page on Saturday (October 19^th) writing: “This time last year Jack was preparing to run the Bath Half marathon in memory of his great friend Adam.

via SWNS

“I sit here tonight in total disbelief to think Jack is not here with us and nobody on earth seems to know where he is.

“If anyone out there knows what happened to Jack on the night of 2/3/24 or where he is now please let us or someone know.”

Catherine emphasises that, no matter how small the information is, anything will be a help in aiding their search for her son. She is desperate for anyone with any knowledge of his vanishing to come forward.

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She goes on to say: “I appreciate for some this is now becoming a little boring – I get told, just accept it, Jack has gone and you need to move on!

“Really – what mother on this earth would ever consider giving up on her child??

“Jack is one of the most important things in my life and I will not give up until I get an answer!

”We have no support from the authorities that should be helping so it’s totally down to our family, friends and the public to keep up the fight.

“Please, please continue to share our plea for help to find Jack.

“Many thanks, Catherine ( and all at team Jack) Any information can be sent to – [email protected].”

Although all is not lost, as recently Catherine gained access to Jack’s phone data from EE.

via SWNS

Avon and Somerset Police originally denied her request in August, due to the Home Office Communications Data Code of Practice and General Data Protection Regulation.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: “We have taken time to carefully consider the data request to see if there was any way we could agree to it in order for Jack’s family to get the answers they deserve following his disappearance.

“However, on this occasion, we are restricted by law and have been unable to identify a clear legal basis which would allow for the disclosure to take place.”

Despite these initial struggles to get the EE phone data, after facing increasing calls, especially on social media, it released the phone data on 8^th October.

Catherine expressed her gratitude in a social media post: “I just wanted to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to EE for allowing the release of the phone data that we have tried so hard to get over the last few months.

“We really appreciate the help that they have given us – thankfully common sense prevailed in the end and we are so grateful!”

After losing trust in the police after they missed vital CCTV footage, Catherine expressed how she had taken matters into her own hands: “We are also trying to pursue phone data so we can see ourselves. After the mess with the CCTV, we cannot leave anything to chance and want to make sure everything is looked at properly.”

Jack O’Sullivan, according to The Find Jack account on Facebook, left the party with his phone. A post on the page read: “He rang and spoke to his mum so he left the part with his phone.”

The access to his phone records is a promising step in granting Catherine some control over her son’s disappearance after having to fight for over two months to get it.

Avon and Somerset Police say that since Jack’s disappearance, more than 20 different teams and departments have been involved in the investigation. 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.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall, of Avon and Somerset Police, 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.

“Throughout our investigation, we’ve been open-minded about what happened to Jack, considering different possible outcomes and scenarios following his last sighting. We have sought reviews from independent agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and experts such as oceanographers and independent Police Search Advisors.

“Sadly, despite the efforts carried out to date, we have been unable to find Jack and we fully appreciate the anguish this is having on his family and our thoughts remain with them during this hugely difficult time.”

If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5224055172.

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Images via SWNS.