Arrest Made in 1995 Disappearance and Suspected Murder of Josephine Dullard

Irish police, known as gardaí, have announced the arrest of an individual in connection with the suspected murder of Josephine “Jo Jo” Dullard. Ms. Dullard, who was 21 years old at the time, disappeared from Moone, County Kildare, in 1995. In 2020, the investigation into her disappearance was reclassified from a missing persons case to a murder inquiry. Furthermore, officers involved in the investigation have initiated a search operation across open terrain situated near the border between Wicklow and Kildare. Supt Paul Burke informed reporters on Monday that “This area of land will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.” The individual taken into custody, described as being in his 50s, is currently detained at a Garda station located in County Kildare. This marks the initial arrest made in connection with the ongoing case. On Monday morning, gardaí also conducted searches at two separate properties. Supt Burke further stated, “An Garda Síochána has been and continues to keep the family of Jo Jo Dullard fully updated in relation to this investigation and they have been fully apprised of all of today’s developments.” On November 9, 1995, Ms. Dullard journeyed to Dublin and spent that evening at the Bruxelles Bar on Harry Street. Later that evening, she missed her final bus service back to Kilkenny. Consequently, at 22:00 local time, she boarded a bus destined for Naas in County Kildare, with the intention of hitchhiking the remaining distance to Callan. From Naas, Ms. Dullard secured a lift to the old N9 road, close to Kilcullen. Approximately at 23:15, she obtained another ride that took her to Moone. Upon arriving in Moone, at 23:37, Ms. Dullard placed a phone call to her friend, Mary Cullinan. During this conversation, she informed Ms. Cullinan that a car had pulled over to offer her a lift, which she intended to accept. This interaction represents the last known contact she had with anyone before her sister, Kathleen, reported her missing on Friday, November 10. For a period of 29 years, the location of Ms. Dullard has remained unknown, prompting a continuous police investigation.