GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING THE disappearance of teenager Deirdre Jacob, who went missing 20 years ago, have upgraded the case to a murder investigation.
The 18-year-old was last seen walking near her home at Roseberry in Newbridge, Co Kildare, at around 3pm on 28 July 1998.
Investigators carried out a number of significant enquiries to establish her whereabouts since her disappearance over the last 12 months, but new information has led gardaí to upgrade the case to a murder probe.
An incident room has now been set up at Kildare Garda Station, and the investigation team are following a number of lines of enquiry.
Speaking at Naas Garda Station to announce the development of the case, Chief Superintendent Brian Sutton said it was gardaí’s belief that Deirdre was killed on or shortly after the day she went missing.
He said: “Deirdre Jacob was 18 years of age when she was last seen on 28 July 1998 as she walked to her home in Newbridge, Co Kildare.
“She was a young woman starting off her life, who had just completed one year at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, London.
“Deirdre had enjoyed her life in London and was looking forward to returning to college that September when her life was taken away on or after the 28 July 1998.
“This 20-year-old investigation has been reviewed in detail by gardaí from Kildare and from the Serious Crime Review Team over the last 12 months.”
Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information in relation to the case to come forward, particularly those who may not have come forward in the past.
Sutton told RTE Radio 1′s Morning Ireland that Deirdre’s immediate family members, Bernadette, Jacob, and Mick, had been made aware of developments in the case.
He also revealed that gardaí had revealed “substantial” new information which had caused the case to be upgraded, but did not disclose what this was.
“We appeal for information on all investigations on a daily basis, and we have to treat this information with confidentiality,” he said.
“I’m afraid I can’t go down that road, discussing what the new information is.”
He added that investigators are confident there are more people with crucial information in relation to the case who have yet to come forward.
He said: “In the passage of time, people might change their opinion on beliefs or the moral compass they had back then, and we wish for them to come forward now.”
The investigation team can be contacted at Kildare Garda Station on 045 521222 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
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