Police launch new search for women who went missing in 90s

The two women disappeared in the 1990s, having last been seen in locations which were a ten-minute journey apart.

An Garda Síochána said the area will be searched and subject to excavation and technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.

The 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 the Kildare Division.

The new search has the support of other State expertise, if required, and a temporary ban on drones has been put in place in the area for the next three weeks.

A spokesman said: "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 appraised of today's developments.

Deirdre Jacob, missing since 1998.

"An Garda Síochána continue to keep an open mind into these investigations and follow up any information which is brought to the investigation team."

Gardaí have asked for space and time to carry out the search operation sensitively.

A search of land near Grangecon in Co. Wicklow was carried out in 2024 relating to Ms Dullard, while gardaí searched a wooded area of Brewel East, on the Kildare-Wicklow border, for the remains of Ms Jacob in 2021.

Josephine "Jo Jo" Dullard went missing on November 9, 1995, on her way home to Callan in Co. Kilkenny after socialising in Bruxelles bar on Dublin's Harry Street. The 21-year-old missed her last bus to Kilkenny and 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, Co. Kildare. 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.

Ms Jacob was last seen near her home at Roseberry, Newbridge, Co. Kildare at around 3pm on July 28, 1998. She was 18 years old and had 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.

The last known recording of her on CCTV was recorded at 2.35pm, walking outside the PTSB bank on Main Street, Newbridge.

Yesterday, gardaí renewed their appeal for witnesses. Anyone who wishes to provide information should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.