Missing Nicola Bulley had alcohol issues says police
Missing Nicola Bulley had “significant issues” with alcohol brought on by her ongoing struggles with menopause, police have said.
Bulley, 45, went missing whilst walking her dog in St Michael’s on Wyre. She had dropped her daughters off at school before heading to her usual dog walking spot, along a riverside.
Police gave an update on the case yesterday, saying their working hypothesis remains that she fell into the river.
During the press conference, police say Nicola had been considered a high-risk missing person from the start of the investigation. They said she had “vulnerabilities.”
Lancashire Police said it was called to a concern for welfare report at her home last month. Cops say health professionals also attended on 10 January adding no arrests were made but it was being investigated.
The update came after the police conference, as they wanted to specify what her vulnerabilities were.
A police spokesman said it was clear after speaking to Nicola’s family she had “in the past suffered with some significant issues with alcohol which were brought on by her ongoing struggles with the menopause”.
“These struggles had resurfaced over recent months [and] this caused some real challenges for [her partner] Paul and the family,” the spokesman added.
The force said it had taken the “unusual step” to go into this level of detail as it was “important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation”.
“We have explained to Nicola’s family why we have released this further information and we would ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time.”
Missing Nicola Bulley investigation
Some have criticised the police for disclosing such personal information and suggested the police were more concerned about protecting their reputation than finding the missing mother of two.
In the press conference yesterday, Dep Supt Smith, said there is no evidence of a criminal aspect or third-party involvement.
Nicola’s partner Paul Ansell said he is convinced she did not fall into the water.
Lead investigator Det Supt Smith said she could not be 100% certain, but cops still believe she fell into the river. She said other hypotheses remained in place and were “reviewed regularly.”
Det Supt Smith also said the force had also been “inundated with false information, accusations and rumours which is distracting”.
She confirmed the derelict house had been searched three times, with the permission of the owner. The glove found does not belong to Nicola and the red van seen in the area was not being treated as suspicious.
