Claire Holland: Police arrest 40-year-old man on suspicion of missing Bristol mother’s murder

Claire Holland was last seen at the Seamus O’Donnell’s pub in St Nicholas Street, Bristol
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Police have arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of missing mother Claire Holland.

The mother, from Lawrence Weston, was last seen at the Seamus O’Donnell’s pub in St Nicholas Street, Bristol, on the evening of Wednesday, June 6 in 2012.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Claire, who was 32 at the time, was subsequently reported missing a few days later.

In November last year, Avon and Somerset renewed its appeal for information and a major search took place in the area around the city centre pub, as well as the Bishopston area.

Police say that Claire Holland, 32, had ‘no reason to go missing of her own accord’ and are treating her disappearance as ‘suspicious’.Police say that Claire Holland, 32, had ‘no reason to go missing of her own accord’ and are treating her disappearance as ‘suspicious’.
Police say that Claire Holland, 32, had ‘no reason to go missing of her own accord’ and are treating her disappearance as ‘suspicious’.

CCTV footage from the day Claire disappeared was also released by the Major Crime Investigation Team, which asked for anyone with information that could help them to come forward.

At the time, Detective Inspector Darren Hannant said: “We firmly believe there are people out there who know what happened to Claire and I would urge them to do the right thing by her family, and come forward now.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Today, the force said a 40-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder - although Claire is still missing.

The Seamus O’Donnell’s pub in St Nicholas Street where Claire Holland was last seenThe Seamus O’Donnell’s pub in St Nicholas Street where Claire Holland was last seen
The Seamus O’Donnell’s pub in St Nicholas Street where Claire Holland was last seen

The man was arrested today and is now in custody.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “We are continuing to provide support and updates to Claire’s family and we’d ask for their privacy to be respected at this time.”

A dedicated appeal page can be visited here - https://mipp.police.uk/operation/5219C66-PO1.

Related topics: