General News
2 April, 2024
$500,000 reward gives family hope for answers
DETECTIVES from the Tablelands Criminal Investigation Branch are hopeful that the announcement of a Queensland Government reward of $500,000 will bring in new information to assist police investigations into the disappearance and suspected murder of Kathleen Mary O’Shea in 2005.
Ms O’Shea, then aged 44, resided in Melbourne but was visiting her son in Ravenshoe for the birth of her grandchild, she was last seen on December 29, 2005, at Atherton.
Ms O’Shea was reported missing by family on January 13, 2006.
An investigation into Ms O’Shea’s movements revealed she attended the bottle shop at the Atherton Hotel and left in the company of two men.
On the morning of 29 December, Ms O’Shea told a friend she was going to walk into the Ravenshoe town centre, and her son Alan would pick her up.
Alan picked her up and drove her to Atherton around midday, where she told him she was going to the Atherton Hotel to play pool and visit a friend in Mareeba.
Investigations into Ms O’Shea’s disappearance have continued, and detectives believe a person, or persons are responsible for her death.
A coronial inquest was held in 2014, with the coroner finding that Ms O’Shea likely died soon after December 29, 2005, in the Tablelands area.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said he hoped the $500,000 reward would bring new information that would help Ms O’Shea’s family and friends.
“$500,000 is a lot of money but it will only be considered or awarded to the first person who brings forward information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible,” he said.
“Police will not stop until they find the answers her loved ones deserve.”
Ms O’Shea’s daughter Lily Parmenter described her mother as “an amazing woman and an even better mother”.
“Losing her has had a devastating impact on the family,” she said.
“Mum was funny, quirky, she loved to laugh and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for the people she loved, especially her kids.
“Eighteen years ago, someone took her from us and our family would like to be able to get justice for her and to lay her to rest.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Devine from the Tablelands Criminal Investigation Branch said police believed Ms O’Shea’s disappearance was suspicious and that “there are people who know what happened”.
“Kathleen’s disappearance was out of character; she was in Far North Qld pending the arrival of her first grandchild,” he said.
“We know that Kathleen was very excited to be a grandmother and intended to be present for the birth.
“A $500,000 reward is now in place for information that may lead to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for Kathleen’s disappearance. Any information no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, could be the key to bringing closure for Kathleen’s family.”
The reward is for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this murder.
The government reward further offers an opportunity for indemnity against prosecution for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the murder, who first gives such information.
