Gardaí investigating the disappearances of Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob have resumed search operations on open land near the Wicklow–Kildare border.
According to RTÉ News, the Defence Forces assisted Gardaí last week under aid-to-civil-power arrangements by carrying out a ground survey of the area in Co Wicklow. The site is now undergoing excavation and forensic examination, with heavy machinery being used to carefully move and inspect soil under Garda supervision.
The search, which is expected to continue over the coming days, is being led by the Serious Crime Review Team and the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, alongside Gardaí from the Kildare/Carlow Division. Support is also being provided by the Garda National Technical Bureau and the Wicklow Garda Division.
Gardaí have requested media sensitivity while the operation is ongoing and have prohibited drone activity near the site. They said no further updates are available at present and that additional information will be released once this phase of the investigation concludes.
A previous search of the same area ended on 25 February this year. The families of both Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob have been informed of the renewed search efforts and will continue to receive updates.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information relating to either disappearance, no matter how minor it may seem, to contact any Garda station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Jo Jo Dullard, aged 21, disappeared on 9 November 1995 after travelling to Dublin for a night out. After missing the last bus home to Callan, Co Kilkenny, she took a bus to Naas and then accepted two lifts as she made her way south. Her last known contact was a phone call to a friend from Moone, Co Kildare, at 11.37pm. She was reported missing the following morning.
Deirdre Jacob, 18, was last seen on 28 July 1998 near the entrance to her family home at Roseberry, Newbridge, Co Kildare. She was wearing a navy V-neck T-shirt, dark jeans and blue Nike runners, and was carrying a distinctive black CAT-branded satchel bag, which has never been recovered.
Source: RTÉ News.
