GARDAI are following up a fresh lead in the investigation into the disappearance of Co Kildare woman, Ms Josephine (Jo Jo) Dollard. Ms Dollard, who would have been 22 today, has been missing for 11 weeks.
Gardai are trying to trace a man in his 20s who was seen in a diner in Castledermot, Co Kildare, on the night she disappeared. It is now believed that she was abducted between 11.50 p.m. and 12.05 a.m. in the town.
The man bought a packet of chips in Tom's Diner in Castledermot shortly before midnight on Thursday, November 9th. Ms Dollard was seen hitching near the diner at the same time.
The man was wearing a heavy workman's jacket and may have been a driver. The Gardai have appealed to him to come forward. They believe he may be able to help them solve the mystery of her disappearance.
Attempts to trace the driver of a dark coloured Toyota Carina E car who is believed to have given Ms Dollard a lift from Moone to Castledermot have so far failed. There are between 13,000 and 15,000 Carinas in Ireland. Ms Dollard was seen approaching the car. The rear door was open. There appeared to be a person or a large object in the front passenger seat.
"It may not be connected at all, but we do need to speak to the driver of the car and we would appeal to him to come forward," Sgt Dan Stapleton of Baltinglass said. "We would also appeal to farmers in the area and along the road to Carlow and Tullow to search their land."
Ms Dollard had travelled to Dublin to sign off the dole that day. She had just got a job in Graingers' restaurant in her home town of Callan. She was due to start work the following morning.
After missing the direct bus she took the commuter bus to Naas and began hitching the rest of the way home. At 11.37 p.m. she rang a friend from the telephone kiosk in Moone to say she was having difficulty getting a lift. A car pulled up while she was on the phone.
A Mass to mark her birthday will be held at the Holy Cross Church in Cuffes grange, Co Kilkenny, this evening.
Yesterday her sister, Mrs Mary Phelan, spoke of the family's agonising wait for news. "It is so hard to think that anyone would go out to deliberately hurt Jo Jo. She was such a kind, fun loving girl. We still hope for a miracle, hope that she will be found alive.
"The past 11 weeks have just been a nightmare for us. When we hear that a woman's body has been found, we think it is Jo Jo.
"Our hearts go out to the other families what is happening at the moment is so sad."