Family of missing lawyer Jack O’Sullivan harassed by trolls
Family claims trolls exploiting their distress over missing Jack O'Sullivan
The family of Jack O’Sullivan, a missing trainee lawyer, claim they have been harassed by individuals attempting to exploit their distress.
Jack O’Sullivan disappeared six months ago while walking home from a night out, and his family has expressed frustration with the police search, leading them to hire a private investigator.
Catherine O’Sullivan, Jack’s mother, said the family has received extensive support but also faced harassment from trolls trying to profit from their ordeal. She reported receiving messages suggesting Jack is being held for ransom and other disturbing claims. Despite the distress, she feels compelled to read every message in the hope of finding a lead.
Jack was last seen at 3:13 am on Sunday, March 2, at the junction of Brunel Lock Way and Brunel Way. Avon and Somerset Police have interviewed hundreds of taxi drivers and reviewed thousands of hours of CCTV footage without success.
Catherine mentioned in a BBC interview that their contact with the police has dwindled to weekly emails, and they feel their questions go unanswered. She spends her days searching different areas, driven by a need to cover every possible location.
The O’Sullivan family has formally complained about the police handling of the case, leading to an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. They believe critical mistakes were made early in the search, including missed CCTV footage showing Jack in a different location.
Catherine had messaged Jack at 1:00 GMT on the night he disappeared, offering him a lift home, but he replied that he was fine and would take a taxi. Jack left a house party on Hotwell Road at 2:57 GMT, was seen on CCTV at 3:13 GMT walking across Junction Swing Bridge, and was last spotted at 3:38 GMT heading back towards the bridge. His phone’s last GPS signal was at 6:44 GMT on Granby Hill.
Jack is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall, slim, with short brown hair. He was wearing a green and brown Barbour jacket, a beige woollen jumper, navy chinos, and brown leather trainers with white soles when he disappeared.
Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall stated that the police remain dedicated to finding Jack and acknowledged the ongoing distress for his family. She highlighted the volume of missing persons cases they handle, emphasising that every missing person is someone’s loved one.
The Facebook group “Find Jack” has amassed over 57,000 members globally.
What Other Media Are Saying
- LBC reports that the mother of missing law student Jack O’Sullivan, 23, has revealed the family has received ransom demands, adding to their distress and frustration with the police investigation. (read more)
- Yahoo News reports on the distressing case of missing law student Jack O’Sullivan, who disappeared on March 2, with his family receiving disturbing ransom demands and expressing concerns about the police investigation. (read more)
- Standard reports that the family of missing law student Jack O’Sullivan has received ransom demands and faced online trolls trying to profit from their trauma, leading the mother to lose faith in the police investigation. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What happened to Jack O’Sullivan?
Jack O’Sullivan disappeared six months ago while walking home from a night out.
Why did the O’Sullivan family hire a private investigator?
They lost faith in the police search and wanted additional help to find Jack.
How have trolls targeted the O’Sullivan family?
They’ve sent fake ransom demands and misleading information about Jack’s whereabouts.
What actions have the police taken to find Jack?
Police have interviewed taxi drivers and reviewed thousands of hours of CCTV footage.
What did the O’Sullivan family claim about the police investigation?
They alleged key mistakes were made early on, including missed CCTV footage.
