Gardaí Renew Appeal For Missing Newbridge Woman Deirdre Jacob, 28 Years After Her Disappearance

Deirdre Jacob was last seen on Tuesday, 28th July 1998 near her home in Roseberry, Newbridge

An Garda Síochána and the family of Deirdre Jacob area appealing to the public for their assistance on the 28th anniversary of her disappearance.

Deirdre Jacob was last seen on Tuesday, 28th July 1998 near her home in Roseberry, Newbridge at approximately 3pm.

Deirdre was 18-years-old in 1998 and would be 46-years-old this year.

She had been attending college in London and was due to return the next September.

On the day she went missing, 28th July 1998, Deirdre had walked into Newbridge town to get a bank draft to send to a college friend in London for their rent deposit.

• At 2.14pm Deirdre is observed on CCTV walking on Main Street Newbridge.
• At approximately 2.18pm Deirdre is observed in the AIB bank getting a £100 bank draft and leaves the AIB Bank a short time later.
• At 2.26pm Deirdre is observed again on CCTV queuing in the Post Office Newbridge.
• At 2.32pm Deirdre is observed on CCTV speaking with a friend outside the Post Office on Main Street, Newbridge.
• At 2.35pm the last sighting of Deirdre, on CCTV, is recorded walking outside the PTSB Bank on Main Street, Newbridge.
• Deirdre was last seen shortly after 3pm near her family home outside Newbridge.

Deirdre was 5’3” in height with a slim build. She had grey/green eyes and dark, chin-length hair.

When she went missing on the 28th July 1998, Deirdre was wearing a navy, v-neck t-shirt with a white trim on the collar and sleeves, navy or black straight jeans and blue Nike runners.

Deirdre was carrying a distinctive black satchel type bag with long shoulder straps and the word CAT in large yellow capital letters on the side. The black satchel bag has never been located.

On the 20th anniversary of her disappearance An Garda Síochána confirmed that the missing person investigation had been upgraded to a murder investigation.

The murder investigation continues to be conducted by Detectives attached to the Kildare Divisional Serious Crime Office, under a Senior Investigating Officer.

Speaking on Kildare Today, her father Michael Jacob renewed the appeal, asking anyone with information to come forward:

"We are asking people who have information to think about the 28 years we have been trying to find Deirdre, all we want to do is find her and bring her back, that's all we're asking.

We know that there are people with information and they're probably turning it around in their heads, asking 'will I tell the Gardaí?' and thinking 'I can't maybe approach the Gardaí because I've left it so long'."

Mr Jacob said that him and his wife are happy to speak to anyone about whatever information they have, adding that he "knows that information is out there".

"Please just come forward and talk to the Gardaí or just talk to someone."

An incident room remains in place at Newbridge Garda Station and An Garda Síochána regularly update Deirdre’s parents, Michael and Bernadette, and her family through a designated Family Liaison Officer.

Anyone with information in relation to this investigation should contact the investigation team at Newbridge Garda Station at (045) 440 180, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

The full interview with Michael Jacob can be heard below: