Man arrested in connection with murder of Jo Jo Dullard released without charge
A gravestone in memory of Jo Jo Dullard. It is understood that the investigation team received 'new information' regarding a location where there might be evidence regarding Ms Dullard or the suspect. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie
A man who was being questioned in relation to the murder of Jo Jo Dullard has been released without charge.
The 55-year-old was detained under Section 4, of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Co Kildare on Monday morning by gardaí while two properties were also searched.
Searches on land straddling the Kildare/Wicklow border resumed on Tuesday morning and are expected to continue for a number of days, gardaí say. The land being searched is located at Ballyhook, Grangecon, Co Wicklow.
Technical and forensic teams are assisting a number of specialised gardaí units involved including the Kildare Division Serious Crime Unit and the Serious Crime Review Team, as well as the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Irish Examiner understands that gardaí are searching for human remains as well as a Sanyo Walkman Ms Dullard had in her possession on the night of her disappearance.
They are also looking for clothes, shoes, a coat and jewelry that the then 21-year-old woman was wearing, as well as hair slides, and a hairband.
Any personal items belonging to Ms Dullard will then be subjected to DNA forensic testing.
The arrest on Monday was the first arrest in the long-running investigation, which was upgraded from a missing person probe to a murder inquiry in 2020.
The man is from the Kildare/Wicklow area. He had previous interactions with investigating gardaí and voluntarily gave statements to assist their inquiry.
While it was initially thought that gardaí had gathered significant evidence against the suspect, to prompt his arrest, it has emerged that detectives have separate pieces of information they want to put to him.
It was also thought that the 29th anniversary of the disappearance of the 21-year-old Kilkenny woman, along with a renewed public appeal for information and interviews by sisters of Ms Dullard, that the suspect might be under some strain.
In addition, gardaí hoped that searches of two properties and searches of lands will have put the suspect under added pressure.
It is understood that the investigation team received “new information” regarding a location where there might be evidence regarding Ms Dullard or the suspect. This information was assessed by the team, which recommended to Garda superiors that a search be carried out.
Garda management agreed and authorised the search, which, along with the Kildare divisional search team and the divisional scenes of crime team, also involved the Garda Technical Bureau. Sources said “concentrated searches” were being conducted on what is a large property.
At a press conference at Naas Garda Station on Monday, Superintendent Paul Burke said the searches would involve excavation and technical and forensic examinations.
It is not yet clear what, if anything, has been removed from the site. Items or possible evidence found will be subject to a range of tests.
Ms Dullard, from Callan, Co Kilkenny, went missing on November 9, 1995, after spending an evening socialising in Dublin. She missed her last bus home to Kilkenny and instead got a 10pm bus to Naas, Co Kildare.
From there she hitch-hiked, getting a lift to Kilcullen and then to Moone. From a phone box in Moone she rang a friend, ending the conversation to say she had a lift. She was not seen or heard from after that.
