News / Jack O’Sullivan
More than 1,000 taxi drivers contacted in search for missing Jack
More than 1,000 taxi drivers have been contacted by officers continuing to investigate the disappearance of Jack O’Sullivan in a renewed effort to broaden the search for the missing 23-year-old.
Jack was last seen in Hotwells in the early hours of March 2, returning home from a night out with friends.
Avon and Somerset Police believe taxi drivers using the Cumberland Basin network in the early hours of that night may have dashcam or eyewitness information which can help them determine what may have happened to Jack.
is needed now More than ever
The police have also issued a new CCTV clip showing a member of the public who was walking a dog in the area of the Brunel Swing Bridge and Cumberland Basin at around 4.30am.
The constabulary believes that the person, described as “wearing a green padded jacket with a fur-lined hood, and they were walking a black dog with a red collar”, is a potential witness and wish them to contact them.
The constabulary wishes to hear from the dog walker who was captured on CCTV on Brunel Swing Bridge and Cumberland Basin at around 4.30am on March 2 – photo: Avon and Somerset Police
A press briefing on the progress of the investigation so far was held at Bridewell Police Station on Monday led by senior investigation officer detective inspector Jason Chidgey.
Chidgey indicated that the team has so far reviewed and re-reviewed more than 100 hours’ worth of CCTV footage, as well as carrying out extensive land and river searches, involving the dog and mounted section, specialist diver teams using sonar technology, the National Police Air Service and a specialist review team to determine the whereabouts of Jack.
Chidgey said: “We hope this renewed focus on drivers or motorists using the road system around Hotwells and the Cumberland Basin on the morning of March 2 will yield more potential footage which can help us provide answers to Jack’s family about what happened to him.
“We know there were a significant number of vehicles in the area during this time and we’ve previously appealed for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward – with a particular focus on the area of Brunel Way, Brunel Lock Road, Junction Swing Bridge, Plimsol Swing Bridge or the Portway, anytime between 2.45am and 4am on Saturday, March 2.
“We’re also still appealing for any mobile phone or doorbell footage.”
The senior investigation officer Jason Chidgey and detective inspector Carlos Filippsen of Avon and Somerset Police – photo: Milan Perera
Officers are proactively contacting several registered keepers of vehicles using the same road system during a set timeframe, who may also be able to provide additional information or footage to the investigation team.
The last confirmed sighting of Jack is at 3.13am as he walks onto the grass area at the junction of Brunel Lock Way and Brunel Way, Bristol.
There are two further sightings which are likely to be Jack, which were on the Plimsol Bridge at around 3.25am (CCTV time stamp is incorrect and is an hour out) heading back in the direction of Bristol city centre, and on the Bennett Way slip road on the northern side of the river at around 3.38am.
Chidgey reiterated the force’s commitment to support Jack’s family “who are going through an unimaginable ordeal,” and added “we’re committed to supporting them in any way we can.”
He concluded: “We’ve sought and continue to seek independent advice from a range of experts to try and identify any lines of enquiry we still need to progress.”
Jack O’Sullivan was last seen around in Hotwells in the early hours of March 2 – photo: Family handout
Jack is white, about 5ft 10ins, of slim build, with short, brown hair. He was last seen wearing a green/brown quilted Barbour jacket, a beige woollen jumper, navy chinos, and brown shoes with a white sole.
The police urges the public who were in the areas outlined above, whether on foot or in a vehicle, and saw anything or have any relevant footage, to contact them on 101 and quote reference 5224055172.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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