A NUMBER of search sites have been identified by gardaí investigating the disappearance 13 years ago of Kilkenny woman JoJo Dullard.
The sites have been selected for searching by gardaí in Bray, Co Wicklow, after the Garda's cold-case squad recommended a full reinvestigation of the case several months ago.
The Bray investigation team is the same group of officers who have also identified two new suspects in the disappearance, presumed murder, of US student Annie McCarrick.
JoJo Dullard went missing on November 9th, 1995, as she was about to hitch a lift from Moone, Co Kildare, to her home in Callan, Co Kilkenny. She was making her way home from Dublin.
She was aged 21 at the time and was training to be a beautician.
Almost from the time she disappeared her family believed she had been murdered.
They collected a petition of signatures in an effort to get gardaí to search a 20-mile radius of Moone, where they believe she was killed.
Gardaí reinvestigating the case have now identified an area of land near Moone which they plan to search.
It is understood that area has been identified as a result of information from the public.
Garda sources said they are anxious not to raise the hopes of the McCarrick and Dullard families.
Both of the cases, as well as that of missing Louth woman Priscilla Clarke, are being reinvestigated by Bray gardaí at the suggestion of the cold-case squad.
The squad was established last year to review unsolved cases to see if modern policing methods might progress historical murders, suspected murders and missing person cases.
While it is believed Ms McCarrick and Ms Dullard were murdered, foul play is not suspected in the case of Ms Clarke.
The 25-year-old from Ardee went missing on May 3rd, 1988, at Powerscourt, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. She was out horse-riding with Lynda Kavanagh, the American-born wife of Irish property tycoon and businessman Mark Kavanagh.
Ms Clarke, a nurse, worked for the Kavanaghs as a childminder.
Gardaí believe the two women were swept away in the flooded river Dargle as their horses were crossing the water after days of heavy rain. Ms Kavanagh's remains were found two days later, but Ms Clarke's remains were never found.
Last year Ms Clarke's family identified a grave at Crosstown Cemetery, Co Wexford, which contained the remains of a woman aged 25 to 40 years. Those skeletal remains were found on Ballinamona Beach, Co Wexford, on December 12th, 1995.
After a report on the case in The Irish Times just over a year ago the then minister for justice Brian Lenihan agreed that the remains should be exhumed in an effort to identify them.
In March it was confirmed a DNA sample taken from the remains did not match samples from the Clarke family.
The Clarke family has always been unhappy that the search for Priscilla was halted almost immediately after the remains of Ms Kavanagh were found. Her family, supported by neighbours from Ardee, continued their own search of the Dargle for a long period but it yielded nothing.
The Clarkes were also unhappy at the level of investigation that went into tracing Ms Clarke's last known movements. However, the reinvestigation now under way is a more thorough probe.
Aerial photographs of the scene where the women were last seen have been taken. The flow of the Dargle when flooded has also been studied in an effort to find where Ms Clarke's remains may have been carried by the waters.
Gardaí who worked on the case at the time have also been spoken to Mark Kavanagh, who is now living in the US. He has also agreed to be interviewed.
Gardaí also plan to interview Frank Dunlop, the former lobbyist and government press secretary. Mr Dunlop handled media queries on behalf of the Kavanagh family when the women disappeared.