Family ‘overwhelmed’ after anonymous donor offers £100k reward to find Jack

It has now been over a year since Jack O’Sullivan, then 23, was last seen after a night out in the city in March 2024.

Now, an anonymous donor has offered £100,000 to anyone who can provide information that could be the breakthrough Jack’s family have been desperately campaigning for ever since that day.

Jack’s whereabouts remain unknown after he was last seen in the early hours of the day of his dissappearance after leaving a house party in Hotwells.

His mum, Catherine O’Sullivan, said the substantial new reward came as “an incredible shock”and that she is “eternally grateful”.

Jack O’Sullivan’s family is still hunting for answers after he mysteriously disappeared following a night out in the city – photo: family

Jack was last seen walking along Bennett Way slip road towards the city centre, wearing a quilted green/brown Barbour jacket over a beige woollen jumper, navy chinos and brown leather trainers with white soles.

It is thought he was trying to get home to Flax Bourton, a village six miles away from Bristol.

The River Avon and its surrounds have since been scoured by police, specialist search teams and volunteers – but to no avail.

Now a mystery benefactor has offered £100,000 for information about the missing man’s whereabouts. The reward will be administered by solicitors.

A anonymous donor has offered £100,000 to anyone who can provide information about Jack O’Sullivan’s disappearance – image: Catherine O’Sullivan

Summing up her reaction when she received the news on BBC News, Catherine said: “It was quite a shock, quite incredible. Initially, you think Gosh, is this genuine? Is this real?

“But once we established that it was, I think we were quite overcome with the generosity of the situation.

“It was a lot to take in, and it was something that needed proper consideration, so we haven’t done this lightly.

“We’ve looked into it from a legal aspect, and if it does help get some answers or find out where Jack is or what’s happened, then we will be eternally grateful.”

She added: “My day is totally dominated by this, even now, after all this time. I’ve chosen for this to be my life, rightly or wrongly. But I don’t think any other mother would do anything different.”

Despite an extensive police investigation, including CCTV footage reviews and searches of the river, Jack O’Sullivan’s whereabouts remain unknown – image: Avon and Somerset Police

Jack’s brother Ben O’Sullivan said: “Trying to forge an existence and carry on day to day is very difficult.

“But we are here and will keep going as best we can. But it’s been incredibly challenging.”

He added: “He is the first that I think of when I wake up and still dominates my thoughts. That’s why we are so eager to get some answers and obviously get Jack home. Living with hope is still something I take as a positive, and that hope won’t diminish.”

Jack O’Sullivan is described as 5’10” with a slim build and short brown hair – photo: family

Following pressure from Jack’s family, the case is now being reviewed by a senior investigator, and a formal complaint has been filed.

The family has been supported by Missing People, which displayed several digital posters across Bristol to help raise awareness.

Joe Youle, chief executive of the charity, said the new reward is “brilliant”.

“It’s pretty unusual, and I think it just goes to show how the issue of missing touches people. People want to help.

“I think the family really hopes that that reward will encourage anyone with any piece of information to come forward and to give the family some answers.”

Anyone with information is urged to come forward via Missing People or www.findjackosullivan.co.uk.

Main photo: Betty Woolerton

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