Gardai set to make arrest in Deidre Jacob case – report

Gardai are to recommend making an arrest in relation to the murder of an 18-year-old student more than 20 years ago.

The Irish Examiner is reporting that gardai are to submit a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the Deirdre Jacob case, the girl abducted from outside her home in Newbridge, Co Kildare in July 1998.

In 2018, after making significant progress on the case, it was upgraded from a missing person case to a murder case.

Wicklow man, Larry Murphy (pictured) has been the chief suspect in this case and the Irish Examiner is reporting that the file being sent to the DPP will recommend charges will be brought in the case.

Murphy, originally from Baltinglass, county Wicklow, was released from jail in 2010 after serving a sentence for the kidnap, rape and attempted murder of a woman in the Wicklow Mountains in 2001. Following his release, Murphy moved to the UK to live.

In 2018, Gardai travelled to the UK to question Mr Murphy in relation to the Deirdre Jacob case but he refused to co-operate.

Last year, following a public appeal gardai unearthed new evidence. It is on the basis of this evidence and evidence gather previously that a file has been sent to the DPP, who will decide if the evidence is strong enough to make a case.