A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Josephine “Jo Jo” Dullard, who has been missing for almost 30 years. The arrest, the first in the case, comes after a sustained investigation and marks a significant development in a case that has long haunted Ireland.

Gardaí said a man in his 50s was arrested on Monday morning on suspicion of the murder of Jo Jo Dullard. He is currently detained under the provisions of section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in Co Kildare. The arrest follows a renewed appeal for information from authorities on the 29th anniversary of Ms Dullard’s disappearance.

Search Operation Underway

Simultaneously with the arrest, a search operation is taking place on open ground at a location in Co Wicklow near the Kildare border. Gardaí said this area of land will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days. Officers also searched two private residences on Monday morning.

The developments have sparked renewed hope for the family of Ms Dullard, who have endured almost three decades of uncertainty and grief.

The Case of Jo Jo Dullard

Jo Jo Dullard, a young woman of 21, vanished on November 9th, 1995, after spending an evening socializing in Dublin. She had been in Bruxelles bar and later missed her last bus home to Kilkenny. She instead boarded a 10pm bus to Naas, Co Kildare. Ms Dullard intended to hitchhike the rest of the way home to Callan, Co Kilkenny.

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 in the county. 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. This was the last known interaction with Ms Dullard.

The case remained a missing persons inquiry for many years, with no leads surfacing. The investigation team based at Naas Garda Station worked tirelessly to piece together the events leading to Ms Dullard’s disappearance, but no concrete evidence emerged. In November 2020, after years of investigation, the investigation team confirmed the disappearance was classified as murder, believing that Ms Dullard met her end around the time of her disappearance.

A Breakthrough After Years of Uncertainty

The arrest of a suspect, after nearly three decades of searching for answers, represents a major breakthrough in the investigation. While the case has been characterized by frustration and uncertainty for the Dullard family, this development offers a glimmer of hope for justice and closure.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Their plea echoes the desperate call for answers from Jo Jo’s family and the wider Irish public. The search for justice for Jo Jo Dullard continues, but with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, there’s a chance for her story to finally reach a conclusion.

The developments in the Jo Jo Dullard case have shaken Ireland, reminding the nation of the enduring pain of unsolved crimes and the power of a dedicated investigation. This breakthrough, while long overdue, has reignited hope for closure, not just for the Dullard family, but for all those affected by unsolved crimes.