Parents slam cops over missing son search

May 8 2009 by Eric McGowan, Irvine Herald

THE parents of a man whose body was discovered 10 months after he went missing have accused police of botching an investigation into his disappearance.

Gregg Jackson’s body was found in an outhouse in New Street, Stevenston last month – just THIRTY feet from where he was last seen alive.

His parents said it was shocking police had not searched the building in the early stages of their manhunt.

Mum Elaine Jackson said: “We are not satisfied with the police investigation and feel there has been a lack of communication between them and us.

“There are still questions that need to be answered.”

But Ayrshire’s top cop Chief Superintendent Bill Fitzpatrick this week said he was happy with the police’s conduct.

He said: “Of course it is a matter of regret that the our search did not find the body of Gregg Jackson.

“However, the police search was a thoroughly active and professional search bringing in all the specialist resources and the command resilience that we would expect.

“It did take a long time but that is indicative of our commitment to finding Gregg Jackson.

“Gregg Jackson was seen in the vicinity of area where his remains were found but we had other intelligence that also took us to other areas of Stevenson, and many towns throughout Ayrshire. In fact our enquiries extended beyond Ayrshire into other force areas.

“We will go where the best intelligence and information takes us and at no time did we have information to suggest that Mr Jackson had been in, or frequented, that outhouse or the area of it.”

Gregg, from West Kilbride, had not been seen since June last year. His case featured on the BBC’s Missing programme in March this year.