Claire Holland: Family ‘desperate for answers’ on 10th anniversary of disappearance

Police have launched a fresh appeal over a mother who disappeared from Bristol 10 years ago today - stating the family are ‘desperate for answers and deserve to know what happened’.

Claire Holland, from Lawrence Weston, was last seen leaving the Seamus O’Donnell’s pub in St Nicholas Street on June 6 at 11.15pm.

Despite an extensive investigation which has seen almost 300 ‘investigative actions’, 78 statements taken and 404 documents collated, her body has never been found.

In March, a 40-year-old man was re-arrested on suspicion of her murder, and remains on police bail.

Today, Avon and Somerset Police has re-issued CCTV showing Claire’s last known movements - visiting Asda in Bedminster, going into a convenience shop and standing outside the Seamus O’Donnell’s pub.

Detectives hope that the Queen’s Jubilee on the weekend might trigger memories, as Claire’s disappearance was the day after the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend

Det Ch Insp Darren Hannant said: “Claire’s disappearance is being treated as suspicious as there remains no known reason why she would choose to disappear.

“We’ve now just celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, so I’m asking people to cast their mind back to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations – were you in Bristol on the evening of Wednesday 6 June, 2012? Did you see anything which could help our investigation?

He added: “We firmly believe there are people out there with crucial information that could assist our investigation and would urge them to contact us.

“Please think of Claire’s children and her wider family on this day – they are desperate for answers and deserve to know what happened, and why. If you’re holding on to a piece of information, please share it with us – it could be the key to solving this case.”

Claire is believed to have headed toward the city centre from the Seamus O’Donnell pub. She is described as white, 5ft tall, of slim build, with shoulder-length brown hair, which was sometimes tied back in a ponytail.

The force has set up a dedicated appeal page on the Major Incident Public Reporting site, and would ask anyone with information who hasn’t yet come forward to do so.

You can provide information online at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/5219C66-PO1 – or you can also call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5219172645, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”