Mother of lacking Jack O’Sullivan is being ‘contacted by mediums’ who declare to know the place her son is – as she says police ‘do not care’ in regards to the scholar who disappeared in March

The mother of missing student Jack O’Sullivan says she is being contacted by mediums who claim to know where her son is. 

Catherine O’Sullivan, 52, says ‘every day’ she receives information from people – including psychics – about where to look for the Bristol student. 

But she aired her frustration at the police as she accused them of not following up on potential sightings of her son and alleged they either think he won’t be found or ‘don’t care’. 

Jack, 23, vanished without trace after being last seen at 3.15am on Saturday March 2 in the area of Brunel Lock Road/Brunel Way, in Bristol.

The University of Exeter graduate, who had moved back to Bristol for the law course, went to a party on Hotwell Road, but at one point tumbled down the stairs and hit his head.

When a random partygoer joked about him having too much to drink, Jack shoved him in a brief clash, but this did not go further.

Jack texted his mum 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 seven months.

His family recently said police told them they were unable to help analyse his phone records they finally convinced EE to release due to data protection laws. 

Yesterday, his frustrated mother Catherine posted on the Find Jack Facebook page: ‘Every day we get information or suggestions as to where to look for Jack.

‘Sometimes it’s anonymous, sometimes by mediums and sometimes people just trying to help us.

‘The authorities would not consider following up on this type of information.

‘In fact, very few sightings of Jack have been followed up by the police so they either think we are not going to find him or they simply don’t care!

‘We really can’t rely on them for support so it’s down to us to search anywhere and everywhere possible to find Jack.’

Jack’s family, friends, and volunteers have been carrying out daily searches where the student was last seen.  

‘We have been blessed by the generosity of specialist dog search teams and volunteers that have come forward to cover areas that the police refused to look at,’ Catherine said. 

‘We are advised against large public searches for safety reasons.

‘Even though Bristol seems very aware of our situation please can I ask you to share this with everyone you know and as far and wide in the UK as possible.

‘Please we ask that you thoroughly check areas that might be remote or in buildings that are empty or disused, outbuildings, sheds, storage areas, garages, basements etc.

‘Have you noticed anything unusual in your area ? Or the comings and goings of people that are not familiar to you?

‘If you have any information that you feel you need to share, you can can via the Email: [email protected] (This can be anonymous if necessary)

‘I appreciate we are continuing asking for help from the public but it’s all we can do Your help and support is very much appreciated by us.’

Speaking about the phone issue, Avon and Somerset Police said last week: ‘Officers have conducted an in-depth analysis of Jack’s phone use and data movements after his last confirmed sighting, this has included receiving information from Jack’s phone provider.

‘Unfortunately, this information has not taken us any further in our bid to locate Jack.

‘In August, we received a request from the Jack’s family requesting a copy of the data.

‘Unfortunately, due to the strict handling and retention requirements laid out in Home Office Communications Data Code of Practice, which applies to data obtained under section 60A of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, as well as GDPR and Data Protection, we have been unable to fulfil this request as the law does not allow us to share it.

‘By disclosing this data to a third party, officers would be unable to comply with the requirements set out in law, including having no control over how it is stored, if it is shared beyond the agreed parameters and if it is retained beyond the legally permitted time period.

‘The information also holds private data belonging to other members of the public.’

Police say since Jack’s disappearance more than 20 different teams and departments have been involved in the investigation.

Earlier this tear it said more than 100 hours of CCTV have been reviewed, 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.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall, of Avon and Somerset Police, said then: ‘Our staff and officers remain committed to doing everything we can to find Jack and we do not underestimate what a distressing time this has been, and continues to be, for his family.

‘Throughout our investigation, we’ve been open-minded about what happened to Jack, considering different possible outcomes and scenarios following his last sighting.

‘We have sought reviews from independent agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and experts such as oceanographers and independent Police Search Advisors.

‘Sadly, despite the efforts carried out to date, we have been unable to find Jack and we fully appreciate the anguish this is having on his family and our thoughts remain with them during this hugely difficult time.’