Case No. 2809Murder (missing person, case upgraded to murder) · Co. Kildare · 5 Nov 1995
Search of open ground in Wicklow completed in Jo Jo Dullard murder investigation
Gardaí have completed their search of open ground in Wicklow in the investigation into the 1995 murder of Josephine 'Jo Jo' Dullard, 21, who went missing after socialising in Dublin. A man in his 50s arrested in connection with the murder in November 2024 has been released without charge.
- Reported18 Nov
4 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports49 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDigs are continuing on open ground in Wicklow for evidence of murdered Jo Jo Dullard. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDuring the call, Jo Jo told Mary that a car had stopped and she was going to take the lift. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThat was the last known interaction with Jo Jo and the last location where she is known to have been alive. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe search and excavation operation is on lands near Grangecon, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereShe vanished from the village of Moone, south Co Kildare, in November 1995. (irishtimes.com)
- whereShe hitchhiked from Naas in Co Kildare to the M9 slip road at Kilcullen and then to Moone in Co Kildare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShe was socialising on Harry Street, Dublin, and was in Bruxelles bar. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShe boarded a 10pm bus to Naas, Co Kildare, intending to hitchhike the rest of the way home to Callan, Co Kilkenny. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereShe hitched a lift from Naas to the M9 slip road at Kilcullen, Co Kildare, and at 11.15pm got another lift to Moone in the county. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGardaí moved on to the search site the Monday before the article was published. (irishtimes.com)
- whenShe rang a friend from a village phone box just after 11.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenJo Jo disappeared on 9 November 1997 while travelling home from Dublin to Callan in Co Kilkenny. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenShe made a telephone call from a phone box at 11.30pm to her friend Mary Cullanan. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenSearches at the grounds in Wicklow commenced on 11 November 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMs Dullard went missing on 5 November 1995, aged 21. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenShe called her friend Mary Cullinan at 11.37pm from a phone box in Moone. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe excavation of land by gardaí searching for Jo Jo Dullard's remains has entered a second week. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are moving very significant amounts of earth in one of the biggest dig operations of its kind in a murder inquiry. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe search is the most extensive to date in the investigation of the 1995 murder. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA suspect was arrested in the Kildare-Wicklow border region on suspicion of the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe suspect was released without charge after being interviewed. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSupt Paul Burke made a fresh appeal for information on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNo person has been brought to justice for the murder of Jo Jo Dullard. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationHer remains were never found. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFor 25 years her death was treated as a missing person inquiry before being upgraded to a murder investigation in 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí commenced a search operation on open ground at a location in Co Wicklow near the Wicklow/Kildare border. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe search operation remains ongoing and is expected to continue over the coming days. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man was arrested on suspicion of murder but later released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn Garda Síochána have updated the family on the current position of the investigation. (garda.ie)
- investigationNearly 800 recommendations were actioned by the Investigation Team based at Naas Garda Station. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe investigation team is under the direction of the Senior Investigating Officer, assisted by An Garda Síochána Serious Crime Review Team. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact Naas Garda Station on 045 884 300 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí have completed their search of open ground in Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man in his 50s was arrested in connection with the murder on 11 November 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man arrested was since released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationNearly 800 recommendations were actioned by the Investigation Team based at Naas Garda Station over the past four years. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí say there has been significant public response to recent appeals and events. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe suspect is a man in his 50s. (irishtimes.com)
- otherJo Jo Dullard was aged 21 when she vanished. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMs Dullard was from Callan, Co Kilkenny. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe was hitching from Dublin to Callan when she disappeared. (irishtimes.com)
- otherShe got a bus from Dublin to Naas before hitching two lifts that got her as far as Moone. (irishtimes.com)
- otherWhile on the call she said a driver had just pulled in. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí suspect she was offered a lift by a man who then killed her, perhaps in a sexually motivated attack. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNo person has been brought to justice for the murder of Jo Jo at this time. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAn Garda Síochána is not commenting further on the searches for operational reasons. (garda.ie)
- otherInvestigators believe serious harm came to her around the time of her disappearance in November 1995. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDuring the call, Ms Dullard told Ms Cullinan that a car had stopped for her and she was going to take the lift. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThis was the last known interaction with Ms Dullard. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Dec2024Jo Jo Dullard murder: Search operation on open ground in Wicklow completed
Search of open ground in Wicklow completed; man in his 50s arrested on 11 November 2024 released without charge; nearly 800 recommendations actioned by the Investigation Team based at Naas Garda Station; Gardaí continue to appeal for information.
victim, Josephine 'Jo Jo' Dullard, 21, female, irish (judged from name)Josephine 'Jo Jo' Dullardsuspect, 50s, male - 1 Dec2024UPDATE 5 - Investigation into the Disappearance and Murder of Josephine “Jo Jo” Dullard in November 1995
Official Garda press release (Update 5) confirming completion of the open ground search in Wicklow, noting the case was upgraded to murder in 2020, nearly 800 recommendations actioned by the team at Naas Garda Station under the Senior Investigating Officer assisted by the Serious Crime Review Team, and a continuing public appeal for information.
victim, irish (judged from name) - 19 Nov2024Digs continue for murdered Jo Jo Dullard as garda are determined to find answers
Reports the search on open ground in Wicklow is ongoing, provides details of Jo Jo's last known movements and 11.30pm phone call to friend Mary Cullanan from a phone box at Moone, Co Kildare, and confirms a man arrested on suspicion of murder was released without charge.
victim, Jo Jo Dullard, female, irish (judged from name)Jo Jo Dullardsuspect, male - 18 Nov2024Gardaí dig large, deep trenches in search for remains of murdered Jo Jo Dullard
Describes the second week of the major excavation operation near Grangecon, Co Wicklow, confirms the suspect (man in his 50s) was released without charge, and includes Supt Paul Burke's fresh appeal for information. Provides background on how Dullard was last seen hitching from Dublin to Callan.
victim, Jo Jo Dullard, 21, female, irish (judged from name)Jo Jo Dullardsuspect, 50s, male