Man Arrested in 29-Year-Old Jo Jo Dullard Murder Case Resumes Land Search in Wicklow/Kildare Border

Man Arrested in 29-Year-Old Jo Jo Dullard Murder Case Resumes Land Search in Wicklow/Kildare Border

November 12, 2024 Catherine Williams News

Jo Jo Dullard Disappearance: Recent Developments and Investigation

Jo Jo Dullard, a 21-year-old woman from Callan in Co. Kilkenny, disappeared on November 9, 1995. Here are the key points in her case:

Disappearance Details

  • Last Seen: Jo Jo was last seen in a phonebox in Moone, Co. Kildare at 11:37 PM.
  • Travel Plan: She had traveled from Dublin to Naas and then hitched a lift to Moone, where she called her friend Mary Cullinane, indicating that a car had stopped for her[2][3].
  • Discovery of the Case: Her disappearance was initially treated as a missing person case. However, in 2020, it was upgraded to a murder investigation by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team[1][2][5].

Investigation

  • Circumstances: After she missed the last bus from Dublin, Jo Jo took a bus to Naas and then hitched rides to Kilcullen and Moone. The last phone call was made from Moone[2][3].
  • Arrest and Detention: On November 11, 2024, a man in his 50s, known to Gardaí for many years, was arrested and detained at a garda station in Kildare on suspicion of Jo Jo’s murder[1][2]. He comes from a respectable and well-known family[2].
  • Previous Involvement: The man had previously given a statement to Gardaí shortly after Jo Jo’s disappearance, indicating his long-standing involvement in the investigation[2].

Search Operations

  • Forensic Search: Gardaí are conducting a forensic search on a site in the Kildare-Wicklow border, using machinery to excavate the land. The search also includes two residential properties connected to the suspect[2].
  • Forensic Anthropologist: A forensic anthropologist is assisting in the search to locate Jo Jo’s remains[2].

Family Background

  • Jo Jo’s Family: Jo Jo was the youngest of five children. Her father passed away before she was born, and her mother died of cancer in 1983[2].

Current Developments

  • Latest Developments Overview: The case remains under intense investigation with Gardaí working closely with the Serious Crime Review Team to find evidence linking the suspect to Jo Jo’s disappearance and potential murder[1][2].

Public Appeal

  • Public’s Role: Gardaí are urging anyone with information on the case to contact them at 1800 666111[1][2].

These thorough investigations aim to provide closure for Jo Jo’s family and bring justice in her disappearance nearly three decades ago. The transformation from treating her disappearance as a missing person case to officially categorizing it as a murder has been significant, and ongoing efforts hope to uncover the truth behind her vanishing.