Sister of murdered Jo Jo Dullard pleads for new information as new year starts

Sarah Slater

A sister of Kilkenny woman Jo Jo Dullard who was murdered 30 years ago has asked members of the public who have “information, no matter how small, to please come forward”.

The 21-year-old was last seen at approximately 11.37pm on November 9th, 1995, in the village of Moone, Co Kildare, while attempting to make her way home to Callan, Co Kilkenny.

She had missed the last direct bus back to Kilkenny and had been hitching lifts from Naas, Co Kildare, where she managed to get a bus to. She was using a public phone in Moone when she told a friend, Mary Cullinane, that a car had stopped and she was going to get a lift. That was the last known sighting of her.

Ms Dullard was the youngest of five siblings. Her father John died before she was born and her mother Nora died in 1983 from cancer. Since her disappearance, her sister Mary Phelan died in 2018 not knowing what happened to her.

In October 2020, gardaí upgraded the investigation into her disappearance to a murder probe.

For three-and-half-weeks in November and December 2024, a major garda excavation of land near Grangecon in Co Wicklow was conducted in an effort to locate her body or any evidence to show she may have been there.

A man in his 50s was the first person arrested on suspicion of the murder of Ms Dullard 14 months ago but was released without charge.

Her sister Kathleen Bergin said in a post on the official Jo Jo Dullard missing person's Facebook page: “Every piece of information is important. We pray for you to find the courage and strength to come forward and help JoJo.”

Ms Bergin noted that she, along with her sister Nora and family, thanked everyone for their “wonderful support and kindness” over the years.

“Thank you all for remembering JoJo and keeping the candle of hope lit for her to finish her journey home. I know in my heart that Mary, Tom, Mam and all our family in heaven are guiding us all and they can see the amazing support we have."

She explained that the support of the public means “so much” to them as they “see how much everyone wants to bring JoJo home and how we are not alone in this journey”.

“JoJo, wherever you are please know that you are never forgotten and always in our hearts and we will never give up searching for you.”

A three-week-long search four years ago of Usk Little in the Kildare/Wicklow area was investigated by gardaí after fresh information came to light.

Gardai have said they are “resolute in their determination to find answers for her family”.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Naas Garda Station 045 884 300, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.