Mystery Persists in the Disappearance of Trevor Deely in December 2000
Disappearance
Today (13 hours ago)
5 minute read.
The unexplained disappearance of 22 year old Trevor Deely in the early hours of the 8th of December 2000 remains one of Ireland’s more perplexing missing persons cases. More than two decades later, no trace of the young bank employee has been found, and despite periodic public appeals, intensive investigation efforts, and renewed Garda interest, the circumstances surrounding his vanishing are still unknown.
Deely, who was from Naas, County Kildare, had been living and working in Dublin at the time. He was employed by Bank of Ireland Asset Management and was described by friends and family as responsible, sociable, and reliable. On the night he disappeared, he had attended his office Christmas party in Dublin city centre. After the event, he continued socialising with colleagues at the Baggot Inn pub before deciding to walk back to his office on Leeson Street, reportedly to collect an umbrella due to heavy rain.
CCTV footage from outside the office shows Trevor arriving at approximately 3:35am. Notably, a man dressed in dark clothing had been observed waiting outside the building for around 30 minutes prior to Trevor’s arrival. The footage captures the two men speaking briefly before Trevor enters the office building, where he remained for about 30 minutes.
He was next seen at 4:03am, leaving the premises. Approximately ten minutes later, further CCTV footage from a camera located at the junction of Haddington Road and Baggot Street Bridge showed him walking in the direction of his apartment in the nearby Ballsbridge area. He was never seen again.
The man in dark clothing, seen walking behind Trevor shortly after he left the office, has never been identified. Despite extensive efforts by Gardaí to locate this individual, including a public appeal in 2017 using enhanced CCTV footage and a reward of €100,000, no further progress has been made.
The case has gripped public attention for years, particularly due to the lack of physical evidence or credible sightings following the night in question. Deely's mobile phone and personal items were never recovered. Despite searches of the Grand Canal and River Dodder, which run through parts of south Dublin, no evidence emerged to suggest he had entered the water.
Over the years, several theories have emerged regarding what may have happened to Trevor. Some believe he may have been the victim of a random attack or abduction, while others have speculated about the possibility of an accident, such as slipping into a waterway. No evidence supports any one theory conclusively.
Investigators and experts also note that in some missing persons cases, individuals choose to disappear voluntarily. There are a variety of reasons why someone might make such a decision, including:
However, in Trevor’s case, there has been no indication from his family or friends that he was experiencing any form of emotional or financial distress. His behaviour in the days leading up to his disappearance was reported to be normal, and he appeared to be making plans for the future. His family have consistently expressed their belief that Trevor would not have chosen to disappear deliberately.
In 2017, as part of a renewed investigative effort, Gardaí conducted a search of a woodland area in Chapelizod, based on a tip-off suggesting Trevor may have been killed and buried there. However, the operation did not yield any evidence connected to the case.
At the time, Garda Superintendent Peter Duff spoke at a press briefing, “Someone out there knows what happened to Trevor Deely. We are appealing to that person to come forward. Even the smallest piece of information may be critical”.
Trevor’s sister, Michele Deely, has also been vocal in keeping public awareness alive. “We know nothing”, she said in 2017. “We have no evidence, we have no body, we have nothing to tell us what happened to Trevor”.
Deely’s family continues to appeal to anyone who may have seen him or spoken to him on the night of 7–8 December 2000, no matter how insignificant the interaction might have seemed.
As the 25th anniversary of Trevor’s disappearance approaches, the case remains open. Gardaí maintain that advances in technology and renewed public interest could one day provide the key to solving the mystery. In the meantime, the Deely family continues to hope for closure, urging anyone with knowledge to come forward.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Donnybrook Garda Station on +353 1 666 9200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Deely, who was from Naas, County Kildare, had been living and working in Dublin at the time. He was employed by Bank of Ireland Asset Management and was described by friends and family as responsible, sociable, and reliable. On the night he disappeared, he had attended his office Christmas party in Dublin city centre. After the event, he continued socialising with colleagues at the Baggot Inn pub before deciding to walk back to his office on Leeson Street, reportedly to collect an umbrella due to heavy rain.
CCTV footage from outside the office shows Trevor arriving at approximately 3:35am. Notably, a man dressed in dark clothing had been observed waiting outside the building for around 30 minutes prior to Trevor’s arrival. The footage captures the two men speaking briefly before Trevor enters the office building, where he remained for about 30 minutes.
He was next seen at 4:03am, leaving the premises. Approximately ten minutes later, further CCTV footage from a camera located at the junction of Haddington Road and Baggot Street Bridge showed him walking in the direction of his apartment in the nearby Ballsbridge area. He was never seen again.
The man in dark clothing, seen walking behind Trevor shortly after he left the office, has never been identified. Despite extensive efforts by Gardaí to locate this individual, including a public appeal in 2017 using enhanced CCTV footage and a reward of €100,000, no further progress has been made.
The case has gripped public attention for years, particularly due to the lack of physical evidence or credible sightings following the night in question. Deely's mobile phone and personal items were never recovered. Despite searches of the Grand Canal and River Dodder, which run through parts of south Dublin, no evidence emerged to suggest he had entered the water.
Over the years, several theories have emerged regarding what may have happened to Trevor. Some believe he may have been the victim of a random attack or abduction, while others have speculated about the possibility of an accident, such as slipping into a waterway. No evidence supports any one theory conclusively.
Investigators and experts also note that in some missing persons cases, individuals choose to disappear voluntarily. There are a variety of reasons why someone might make such a decision, including:
- Mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, which can lead individuals to isolate themselves or flee from perceived pressures.
- Financial distress or legal difficulties, which may prompt someone to leave without informing friends or family.
- Desire for a new identity or escape from a difficult personal situation, such as strained relationships, domestic abuse, or overwhelming responsibilities.
- Substance abuse, which can alter behaviour and decision-making, sometimes resulting in sudden disappearances.
- In rare cases, misadventure or mistaken identity may also play a role, particularly in urban environments during the early hours when visibility is low and foot traffic is minimal.
However, in Trevor’s case, there has been no indication from his family or friends that he was experiencing any form of emotional or financial distress. His behaviour in the days leading up to his disappearance was reported to be normal, and he appeared to be making plans for the future. His family have consistently expressed their belief that Trevor would not have chosen to disappear deliberately.
In 2017, as part of a renewed investigative effort, Gardaí conducted a search of a woodland area in Chapelizod, based on a tip-off suggesting Trevor may have been killed and buried there. However, the operation did not yield any evidence connected to the case.
At the time, Garda Superintendent Peter Duff spoke at a press briefing, “Someone out there knows what happened to Trevor Deely. We are appealing to that person to come forward. Even the smallest piece of information may be critical”.
Trevor’s sister, Michele Deely, has also been vocal in keeping public awareness alive. “We know nothing”, she said in 2017. “We have no evidence, we have no body, we have nothing to tell us what happened to Trevor”.
Deely’s family continues to appeal to anyone who may have seen him or spoken to him on the night of 7–8 December 2000, no matter how insignificant the interaction might have seemed.
As the 25th anniversary of Trevor’s disappearance approaches, the case remains open. Gardaí maintain that advances in technology and renewed public interest could one day provide the key to solving the mystery. In the meantime, the Deely family continues to hope for closure, urging anyone with knowledge to come forward.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Donnybrook Garda Station on +353 1 666 9200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
