Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Garda Press

Gardaí are tracking the movements of a convicted rapist linked to Deirdre Jacob murder

The man is still alive and living in Dublin.

THE CHIEF SUSPECT in the Deirdre Jacob murder investigation is being tracked by officers since new information about her disappearance emerged, TheJournal.ie has learned.

Officers from the Garda cold case unit yesterday upgraded the case of the Kildare woman, who disappeared in 1998, from a missing persons case to a murder investigation.

Gardaí have a chief suspect in mind – a man who has previously been convicted for rape and assault. He is considered a violent criminal with a high risk of reoffending.

Gardaí had in the past probed suspicions that the man had something to do with Jacob’s death but were unable to prove it. However, TheJournal.ie understands that new information which has come to light has strongly linked him to Jacob’s disappearance.

Cold case gardaí have also, in recent weeks, been liaising with other members in the Dublin region to ascertain the exact location of the suspect.

He had arrived back in the country in recent months to attend a family event. He is understood to be living in north county Dublin. It is understood that gardaí are getting regular updates on his whereabouts.

Gardaí, along with specialised search teams, are also expected to conduct a search of areas around Newbridge, many of which have been affected by the new road network installed in Kildare in the last 20 years.

Where Deirdre lived was around 10km from where the M7 motorway is now situated. One avenue of investigation is that Deirdre was abducted from outside her home and moved, by vehicle, to a place where her remains were buried.

Gardaí believe Deirdre was murdered either on the day of her abduction or very soon after.

However, the roads around Newbridge and Kildare looked very different to what they do now. Gardaí already have information on the precise layout at the time and will use these maps as a guide for all upcoming searches.

The radial area around Newbridge is top of gardaí’s attention. They are looking at definite areas to search in the coming weeks.Nothing is confirmed as yet but it is expected that areas to north west of Newbridge will be searched.

The disappearance and new probe

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 over the last 12 months to establish her whereabouts since her disappearance. New information gathered in that time led gardaí to reexamine the case’s status and, this morning, a murder probe was confirmed.

Chief Superintendent Brian Sutton told TheJournal.ie that the process started 12 months ago.

“We pulled apart the investigation. Detectives from Kildare along with officers in the serious crime review team have been working on this.

“We saw new lines of inquiry that needed to be followed and new information had come to light as well. We sat down around six weeks ago and decided to reclassify this as a murder investigation.

Gardaí have taken more than 2,000 statements and followed over 2,500 different lines of inquiry during the 20-year investigation.

An incident room has now been set up at Kildare Garda Station, and the investigation team are following a number of lines of enquiry

The investigation team can be contacted at Kildare Garda Station on 045 521222 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
59 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
    Favourite Sharp Elsi Mate
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 8:24 AM

    That headline right there is an embarrassment to any government in power. Shameful that this is how vulnerable people get access to housing.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Gorman
    Favourite James Gorman
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 8:39 AM

    @Sharp Elsi Mate: who do you think funds those agencies??

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The next small thing
    Favourite The next small thing
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 8:39 AM

    @Sharp Elsi Mate: This housing is paid for by the Government, it’s just another way of delivering it and can be done cheaper than going through the Local Authority. Also the Local Authority doesn’t have the problems and costs associated with social housing such as maintenance, non payment of rent and anti social behaviour.

    61
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vic's Burd
    Favourite Vic's Burd
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 9:02 AM

    @Sharp Elsi Mate: If we were to wait around til the state looked for land and funding to build public social housing on, we will have a way bigger homeless issue to deal with…

    The AHBs are providing a much needed ‘home for life’ service – some of these are built on private lands still own by Trusts; who claim a share of the rents to fund Charities, stakeholders and investors etc. While the rest of the rent goes to the upkeep and maintenance.

    This is the future of social housing. Public owned land is getting scarce.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pauline Fedigan
    Favourite Pauline Fedigan
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 9:17 AM

    @James Gorman: THE TAX PAYERS

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
    Favourite Sharp Elsi Mate
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 9:33 AM

    @James Gorman: WE DO. I’m under no illusion how these charities and agencies are funded my point was that we have a completely dysfunctional housing agency that cannot delivery all housing like a properly ran agency should. But thats ok James if you think you are getting good value out of those civil servants happy days come to think of it you probably are one of them.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Walsh
    Favourite James Walsh
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 10:21 AM

    @Sharp Elsi Mate: You don’t seem to understand the concept , just eager to express some outrage

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
    Favourite Sharp Elsi Mate
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 2:14 PM

    @James Walsh: aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…now i feel better

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jenny Hughes
    Favourite Jenny Hughes
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 7:36 PM

    @James Walsh: “just eager to express some outrage” this sums up most people these days! I’ll be stealing this phrase, you’re spot on!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shaner Mac
    Favourite Shaner Mac
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 8:21 AM

    With the completely dysfunctional and unsustainable nature of the current social housing system, I’m not surprised that local councils can’t and don’t deliever them directly.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Boylan
    Favourite Sean Boylan
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 8:42 AM

    @Shaner Mac: The local councils are delivering social units also ranging from new builds, part v, purchases and leases. The same with the voluntary housing bodies, the majority of the new units to this sector are funded and procured through the local councils. Most of the new units stated are owned by the LA and leased to the voluntary bodies. The two always work together to provide housing services.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vic's Burd
    Favourite Vic's Burd
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 9:04 AM

    @Sean Boylan: not all of them. Some are privately build for this purpose; LA just pay the rent similar to HAP for private landlords.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute New Day Rising
    Favourite New Day Rising
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 8:52 AM

    Just imagine the state this country would be in without charity and volunteer involvement, they do it all, housing, mental health, cancer respite, suicide prevention to name a few. The governments over decades have failed us

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vic's Burd
    Favourite Vic's Burd
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 9:07 AM

    @New Day Rising: you are aware the majority get 50-80% funding from the Government to run these services under Service Agreements?

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Greg Daniel
    Favourite Greg Daniel
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 9:21 AM

    Build it and they will come

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rory J Leonard
    Favourite Rory J Leonard
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 9:16 AM

    Yes, the AHB’s are doing wonderful work throughout the country in providing homes to the most vulnerable.

    The Peter McVerry Trust operates a wonderful scheme – now up and running in many counties – whereby owners of run-down unoccupied properties are assisted financially in bringing them back to life.

    There’s a dribble of Income for the freehold owner initially until repair bill has been fully recovered; afterwards… almost full market rent for the region in question. PMT takes care of everything.

    So for anyone wondering what to do with their recently inherited, bramble/ivy covered, right country located, fixer upper, talk to the folks at The Peter McVerry Trust.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damon16
    Favourite Damon16
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 1:40 PM

    Good. 100% of social housing should be built this way. The public sector is the most inefficient and unaccountable entity.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick FitzGerald
    Favourite Patrick FitzGerald
    Report
    Jun 10th 2020, 6:56 PM

    Non profit should be the only way housing is provided. That we allow people to use housing they don’t need as an investment vehicle and exploit people in the process is one of the worst archaic paradigms of human civilisation.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds