Digs are continuing this week on open ground in Wicklow for any evidence of murdered Kilkenny woman Jo Jo Dullard - as gardai remain determined to provide answers for her family.

Jo Jo disappeared on November 9, 1997 while she was travelling home from Dublin to Callan in Co Kilkenny.

She had hitchhiked a lift from Naas in Co Kildare to the slip road on the M9 motorway at Kilcullen and then to Moone in Co Kildare.

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It was there she made a telephone call from a phone box at 11.30pm to her friend Mary Cullanan. During the call Jo Jo told Mary that a car had stopped and she was going to take the lift.

That was the last known interaction with Jo Jo and the last location where Jo Jo is known to have been alive.

Last week, 29 years on, gardai commenced a search operation on open ground at a location in Co Wicklow near the Wicklow/Kildare border.

This operation remains ongoing and is expected to continue over the coming days. A man was arrested last week on suspicion of murder but later released without charge.

Superintendent Paul Burke said: “No person has been brought to justice for the murder of Jo Jo at this time.

“An Garda Siochana continues to search lands on the Wicklow/Kildare border. It is hoped that these searches will reveal evidence as to what happened to Jo Jo.”

“An Garda Siochana continues to keep the family of Jo Jo updated in relation to the investigation.

“JoJo’s family have now suffered for 29 years from her disappearance and murder.

“They continue to suffer not knowing where Jo Jo’s remains are. An Garda Siochana is resolute in our determination to provide answers for her family. We want to bring Jo Jo home to her family.”

Reiterating the appeal, Supt Burke said: “There are persons out there who know what happened to Jo Jo and now is the time for those persons to come forward and speak with An Garda Siochana.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Naas Garda Station on 045 884 300 or any Garda station, or anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.”

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