Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 3719Murder (cold case) · Co. Wicklow

Gardaí complete 10-day dig at Wicklow site linked to Dullard and Jacob cold case murders

Gardaí completed a 10-day excavation at Castleruddery Upper, Co. Wicklow, prompted by credible information that prime suspect Larry Murphy may have buried vehicles and remains at the site in connection with the 1990s cold case murders of Deirdre Jacob and Jo Jo Dullard. The families of both women were informed of the end of this phase, with a further assessment of the site still ongoing.

  1. Reported25 Feb
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenThe search began on 16 February 2026 and continued for 10 days. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenDeirdre Jacob was 18 when she was abducted from outside her home in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, in 1998. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenJo Jo Dullard was 21 when she was abducted from Moone, Co. Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí completed a 10-day excavation at a site in Co. Wicklow linked to the cold case investigations. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSpecialist gardai used a large digger to excavate a specific site and moved significant amounts of earth. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were looking for buried vehicles at the site based on credible information. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí appealed for anyone with information about the two missing women to come forward. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherLarry Murphy, 61, is the prime suspect for the 1998 abduction and murder of Deirdre Jacob and now lives in England. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe families of both missing women were informed of the end of this phase of the search. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Feb2026
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardai issue new update after 10 day dig in search for missing women

    Reports the completion of a 10-day excavation at Castleruddery Upper, Co. Wicklow, linked to the cold case investigations into the murders of Deirdre Jacob (1998) and Jo Jo Dullard (1990s), with a further assessment of the site still ongoing.

    victim, Deirdre Jacob, 18, female, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Jacobvictim, Jo Jo Dullard, 21, female, irish (judged from name)Jo Jo Dullardsuspect, Larry Murphy, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry Murphy