Journalist Isla Traquair appeared on This Morning today and shared details on the last person to see Nicola Bulley alive - and their impression of the mother-of-two, after bumping into her on her dog walk.
The disappearance of 45-year-old Nicola has gained a renewed focus after the police force revealed she had ‘significant issues’ with alcohol brought on by her ongoing struggles with menopause.
Nicola went missing last month during a riverside dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre and journalist Isla Traquair said she spoke with another dog walker who had seen Nicola before her disappearance.
The longtime crime reporter was in the This Morning studio on Thursday morning to speak with co-hosts Dermot O’Leary and Josie Gibson about the case amid criticism levelled at Lancashire Police for disclosing such personal information about Nicola.
“I have never come across a police force to be so close-minded,” Isla said in the ITV studio. “Even though they’re saying they’re still open, they keep pushing: she’s in the river, she’s in the river. I’ve also never seen such a defensive press conference as I did.”
Isla visited the riverside location of Nicola’s disappearance twice last week, adding that she spoke with a friend of the mother-of-two.
She continued: “I also spoke to probably the last person to see her alive – one of the other dog walkers and I asked him how was she?
“They had a little exchange as he was coming along the path about the dog and the lead, etc. He said she was fine.”
She added: “I didn’t specifically say, do you think she was under the influence of alcohol. I think, with this, it’s what’s relevant, important and helpful.
“I believe the information they’ve released now is purely to cover their backs, they’re feeling attacked. Is this helpful?”
The force also said officers were called to a concern for welfare report at her home last month, adding they had decided to disclose these details as it was ‘important to clarify what we meant when we talked about vulnerabilities to avoid any further speculation or misinterpretation’.
Earlier in the programme former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley condemned the Lancashire Police's communications as ‘pretty appalling’ through the case, as he spoke with Dermot and Josie.
He said: “They’ve completely done a U-turn of letting the world know Nicola had difficult alcohol problems connecting to her issues with the menopause.
“That’s a complete about face and is symptomatic of a very, very poor media and communications strategy. If they were going to do it they should have laid everything bare from the off.”
