€10,000 offered for information on missing Achill man

€10,000 offered for information on missing Achill man


Anton McNulty

THE family of an Achill man missing in Holland since 2008 have criticised the attitude of the Dutch police in trying to find him and have offered a €10,000 reward for anyone who gives information leading to his whereabouts.
The fresh appeal for information on James Patrick ‘JP’ Grealis was made in Holland over the weekend. JP, originally from Tonragee, was last seen on October 23, 2008, when he checked out of a B&B in the town of Breda. The then 24-year-old had been working in Holland as a carpenter.
One of JP’s four sisters, Helen Grealis, told The Mayo News that the family has been disappointed with the investigation carried out by the Dutch police, who have not treated his disappearance as suspicious. She said that this is so despite the fact that JP’s bank account has not been touched since he disappeared.
The family recently turned to a team of Dutch experts that takes on ‘cold’ cases. The team includes a retired detective, a criminal psychologist and a well-known crime reporter.
“We have received little assistance from the Dutch authorities, who have not treated his disappearance as suspicious. The police are not looking for him and have given up on him. We did a lot of the investigations ourselves and the police never left their building once when JP was reported missing. They never traced his last steps, we had to do that.
“He has not touched his bank account since he went missing … He was due to fly home for Christmas in 2008 but never got the flight. He was always in regular contact with Mum and Dad, his four sisters and his friends. The cold case experts have had some success in the past working on crime cases and I hope something will come from it,” she said.
JP’s family have made several trips to Holland in hope of a breakthrough. Helen said they would like to thank the Dutch media for their assistance and everyone who supported the family, especially those who contributed to the fundraising which has allowed them to offer this reward.
Helen said the past 22 months have been extremely difficult for the family, with every moment of the day spent thinking about where JP could be.
“The not knowing is torture and a constant torment on our minds. It is extremely difficult for all of us not having JP here. Family events are especially difficult. We are always thinking of him … He is the last thing on our minds when we go to bed and the first thing when we wake up in the morning.”