Missing Jack O'Sullivan's mother says police 'dismissing' sightings

The mother of missing student Jack O'Sullivan has accused police of 'dismissing' reported sightings of her son and said they have 'made up their minds about where he is.'

Catherine O'Sullivan claims officers have failed to follow up on reported sightings after he went missing on a night out earlier this year.

Jack, 23, was last seen at 3.15am on Saturday March 2 in the Brunel Lock Road area of Bristol after a attending a house party in the city.

The University of Exeter graduate, who had moved back to Bristol for the law course, went to a party on Hotwell Road.

Jack texted his mother at 1.52am to say he was safe and planned to get a taxi and left the party an hour later, without saying goodbye to his female friend who was having a cigarette outside. 

He never returned home and has been missing for six months.

Previously Avon and Somerset Police have previously said they are unable to release his phone records to the family and Catherine said they have had to take legal action to gain access to the data that includes where it was last tracked.

Ms O'Sullivan has now claimed online that she has discovered some sightings of her son are not being investigated. 

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Mother of missing Jack O'Sullivan says she's had 'no support from authorities'

Speaking on the 'Find Jack' Facebook page on Sunday his mum posted: 'It has been brought to my attention tonight that some of the reported sightings have not been followed up on.

'The police have dismissed most of them as they have totally made up their minds on where Jack is.

'If Jack is found somewhere they have not considered then it's a total disaster for them!'

She appealed for anyone with information to get in touch, saying: 'I will respond personally to any information. Many thanks for all your continued support and help. Together we will bring my boy home!'

She added: 'It has been suggested many times to increase the reward so that someone comes forward.

'For me, I find it so hard that someone with information would not come forward regardless of a reward.

'I would give all the money we have for someone to tell me where Jack is!

'If someone is out there with any information please let us know. You can do this anonymously if you prefer - just do the right thing! Thank you x.'

Speaking earlier this year Avon and Somerset Police police say more than 20 different teams and departments have been involved in the investigation.

It said more than 100 hours of CCTV have been reviewed and there have been 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.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: 'We remain open-minded about what happened to 23-year-old Jack O'Sullivan after he went missing on Saturday 2 March in the Cumberland Basin area of Bristol and our investigation is continuing.

'Since Jack disappeared, we've received more than 130 calls in our contact centre with information, as well as receiving weekly updates from the family's representatives.

'Each report is carefully assessed and triaged by detectives from our investigation team. They consider the information provided, the evidential value and the relevance to the investigation. Wherever necessary they follow-up the report by contacting the informant and conducting further enquiries.

'On several occasions, we've received a single-call report where someone who looks like Jack has been seen elsewhere in the country. 

'Officers will use a probability scale to make a proportionate judgement about the information provided based on the information and evidence available. This allows us to focus the resources we have available on the reports which present more meaningful lines of enquiry.

'We're always grateful for the public's continued and ongoing support of this investigation. Our priority remains focussed on finding out what happened to Jack and giving his family the answers they desperately need.'