A sister of missing Kilkenny woman Jo Jo Dullard who was presumed murdered has said it would “mean the world” to her family to lay her to rest with her “loved ones” so their “nightmare” can end.
The 21-year-old was last seen 29 years ago at approximately 11:37pm on November 9th, 1995 in the village of Moone, Co Kildare, while attempting to make her way home to Callan, Co Kilkenny.
She had missed the last direct bus back to Kilkenny and had been hitching lifts from Naas, Co Kildare, where she managed to get a bus to.
The young woman was using a public phone in Moone when she told a friend Mary Cullinane that a car had stopped and she was going to get a lift. That was the last known sighting of her.
She was the youngest of five siblings. Her father John died before she was born.
For the last three weeks a major garda excavation of land near Grangecon in Co Wicklow is being searched in an effort to locate her body or any evidence to show she may have been there.
A man in his 50s was the first person arrested on suspicion of the murder of Ms Dullard but was released without charge.
The Kilkenny woman’s sister Kathleen Bergin issued another appeal on the official Jo Jo Dullard Missing Facebook page on Sunday night as a fresh garda search enters its fourth week. She also shared a “very precious” photograph of her sister with their late mother Nora.
Mrs Bergin explained the photograph was taken when her younger sister was “only six-months-old in our mam's arms feeling safe and loved”.
She continued: “It would mean the world to our family to be able to lay JoJo to rest beside all our loved ones. Please help make this come true and end our nightmare.
“We are appealing for anyone who has information, no matter how small, to please come forward and help JoJo come home and once again be safe in our mam's arms.”
In October 2020, gardaí upgraded the investigation into her disappearance to a murder probe.
A subsequent three-week long large scale search of Usk Little on the Kildare/Wicklow - a woodland area was investigated by gardai after fresh information came to light.
The extended family also issued a statement a week ago to show their appreciation to members of the public and gardai.
The statement noted that the family felt the “country as a whole have been behind us every step of the way.”
They continued: “We cannot put into words how much we appreciate and cherish this support. Please keep JoJo in your prayers and keep the candle of Hope burning to help her find her way home.”
The family added that as the search for Ms Dullard continues they are appealing for anyone with any information, “no matter how small,” to please come forward.
Gardai have said they are “resolute in their determination to find answers for her family”.
On the 29th anniversary of Ms Dullard’s disappearance her family, led by Mrs Bergin held a memorial ceremony at the statue dedicated to missing people in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Naas Garda Station 045 884 300, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
