Gardaí starting new search for JoJo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob
Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murders of Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob are commencing a search operation on open ground at a location in Co. Wicklow near the Wicklow/Kildare border.
This area of land will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.
Dullard was last seen at approximately 11.37 pm on November 9th, 1995, in the village of Moone, Co Kildare, while attempting to make her way home to Callan, Co Kilkenny.
The 21-year-old missed her last bus to Kilkenny and instead boarded a 10pm bus to Naas, Co Kildare, intending to hitchhike the rest of the way home.
She hitched a lift from Naas to the slip road on the M9 motorway at Kilcullen, Co Kildare, and at 11.15pm got another lift to Moone.
There, Dullard called her friend Mary Cullinan at 11.37 pm from a phone box.
During that call, Dullard told Ms Cullinan that a car had stopped for her and she was going to take the lift.
This was the last known interaction with Ms Dullard.
In October 2020, gardaí upgraded the investigation into her disappearance to a murder probe.
Deirdre Jacob was last seen close to her family home just outside Newbridge, Co Kildare, on July 28th, 1998.
On the day she was last seen, Jacob had walked into Newbridge town to get a bank draft to send to a college friend in London for their rent deposit.
At 2.14 pm, she was observed on CCTV walking on Main Street, Newbridge and shortly after was observed in the AIB bank.
At 2.26 pm, Jacob was observed again on CCTV queuing in the Newbridge Post Office and at 2.32 pm was seen on CCTV speaking with a friend outside the Post Office on Main Street.
The last known recording of Jacob on CCTV was at 2.35 pm, walking outside the PTSB Bank on Main Street, Newbridge.
Her disappearance was investigated as a missing person inquiry before being upgraded to a murder case in 2018.
An Garda Síochána continue to keep an open mind on these investigations and follows up on any information which is brought to the investigation team based at the Serious Crime Review Team.
The search operation is being led by the Serious Crime Review Team, Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau and local resources from Kildare Division as required.
The search operation has the support of other state expertise, if required.
An Garda Síochána has been and continues to keep the families of Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob updated in relation to these investigations, and they have been fully apprised of developments.
An Garda Síochána appeals to anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you might believe it to be, to contact any Garda station, or anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
