Gardaí issue update in search for Kilkenny woman Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob

A search in County Wicklow by gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob has ended.

Gardaí began examining an area of open ground near the Wicklow/Kildare border on June 15.

In a statement on Thursday, An Garda Síochána said the families of the two women have been updated about the outcome of the operation.

“The results of these searches will not be released for operational reasons,” the statement continued.

During the search gardaí said they were assisted by the Defence Forces, in carrying out a technical ground survey of the area.

Heavy machinery, including an excavator, was seen removing soil from an area of open ground.

The operation was led by the Serious Crime Review Team, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation along with local Gardaí and is supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau.

In February, an area of ground in County Wicklow near the border with Co Kildare was searched over a number of days.

Josephine “Jo Jo” Dullard, then aged 21, went missing on November 9 1995 while on her way home to Callan in County Kilkenny after socialising in Bruxelles bar on Dublin’s Harry Street.

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Ms Jacob, then 18, was last seen near her home at Roseberry, Newbridge, in Co Kildare at around 3pm on July 28, 1998.

Josephine “Jo Jo” Dullard went missing on November 9 1995 while on her way home to Callan after socialising in Bruxelles bar on Dublin’s Harry Street.

The 21-year-old missed her last bus to Kilkenny and instead boarded a 10pm bus to Naas, 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, County Kildare, and at 11.15pm got another lift to Moone.

There, Ms Dullard called her friend Mary Cullinan at 11.37pm from a phone box.

During that call, Ms Dullard told Ms Cullinan that a car had stopped for her and she was going to take the lift.

Earlier this week, the Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Ossory, Bishop Ger Nash, met with and welcomed members of Jo Jo Dullard's family to the Diocesan Office this week to offer his support, prayers, and solidarity during what continues to be a deeply difficult time for them.

Bishop Nash was joined by Fr. Willie Purcell as he met with Jo Jo's sister, Kathleen, and her husband, Seamus. The gathering provided an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and pastoral support, with Bishop Nash assuring the family of the Diocese of Ossory's continued prayers.

Meanwhile, Ms Jacob was last seen near her home at Roseberry, Newbridge, in Co Kildare at around 3pm on July 28 1998.

She was 18 at the time of her disappearance and had just completed one year at St Mary’s University in London.

On the day she was last seen, Ms Jacob had walked into Newbridge town to get a bank draft to send to a college friend in London for their rent deposit.

At 2.14pm, she was observed on CCTV walking on Main Street, Newbridge, and shortly after was observed in the AIB bank.

At 2.26pm, Ms Jacob was observed again on CCTV queuing in the Newbridge Post Office and at 2.32pm was seen on CCTV speaking with a friend outside the Post Office on Main Street.

The last-known recording of Ms Jacob on CCTV was recorded at 2.35pm, walking outside the PTSB Bank on Main Street.

She was last seen shortly after 3pm near her family home.

READ MORE: Meeting held with Jo Jo Dullard's family as search for the Kilkenny woman goes on