The family of missing woman Josephine ‘Jo Jo’ Dullard have said it would be a “huge relief” if her body was found and given a proper burial.
The 21-year-old disappeared 29-years ago this week and Gardaí have issued a fresh appeal for information about the case.
On Lunchtime Live, Ms Dullard’s sister, Kathleen Bergin, said that November 9th, 1995, was a “day we’ll never forget”.
“It’ll always be etched in our minds because that’s the day our lives changed forever,” she said.
“She was on her way home and got a lift as far as Moone [in Kildare] and thank God she made a phone call that night to her friend.
“We know that she got to the phonebox - it’s after that that we’re trying to put the pieces together.”
Today marks the 29th anniversary of the disappearance of Josephine "Jo Jo" Dullard.
We are once again asking anyone who may have information on Jo Jo's disappearance in 1995 to contact Naas Garda Station on 045 884 300 or any Garda station.https://t.co/I1aaPNyAPG
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) November 9, 2024
Ms Dullard had been in Dublin but missed the bus to Kilkenny and decided she would try and get home regardless.
She bought a bus ticket to Naas and then managed to grab a lift from someone.
In the village of Moone, she stopped off to make a call to a friend and updated them on her situation.
Ms Dullard’s friends and family never saw or heard from her again.
“What did she go through? The fear she must have had,” Ms Bergin said.
“If only you could turn the hands of time back.
“She was 21-years-of-age, she was born on January 25th, 1974 and she was young.
“She had her whole life ahead of her.”
A ceremony will take place this Saturday 9 Nov at the Missing Persons Monument to remember JoJo Dullard. To mark the anniversary a walk & service will take place at 2pm gathering at the courtyard of Kilkenny Castle and walk to the Missing Persons Monumenthttps://t.co/fTOSAlt7eC pic.twitter.com/7QRlqjgLqi
— National Missing Persons Helpline (@nmph_ireland) November 4, 2024
Ms Bergin said her sister’s friends and family - including her nieces and nephews - all “miss her so much” despite not having seen her for nearly three decades.
“She had a wonderful family and great friends,” she said.
“It’s been absolutely devastating for everybody.
“Her friends have always said that she was a treasure to know and we just want her back home.”
Garda appeal
To this day, Gardaí and Ms Dullard’s family still hope that someone out there knows something that will help them solve the mystery of her disappearance.
“I know it’s 29-years later but it’s never too late to come forward and tell us what they know,” Ms Bergin said.
“We understand that there could be something that was holding them back from coming forward - fear?
“After all this time, they’d probably worry, ‘God, what would they think if I come up with this information?’
“Trust us, that’s all we want and if they want to add something onto a statement or change it, please do it.”
Ms Bergin said the family would dearly love to give her sister a proper funeral.
“At least if we had a grave to go to, we could put flowers on it,” she said.
“We could sit down and chat to her knowing she’s there. It would be such a huge relief for us, her family and everybody who knew and loved her.”
Anyone with any information can contact any Garda station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
You can listen back here:
Main image shows Jo Jo Dullard. Image: An Garda Síochána.
