Gardai complete search of woodland for traces of missing women

A SEARCH in Co Kildare by Gardaí investigating the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob and other women who went missing over 20 years has ended.

"The search of a site of a wooded area of interest in Co Kildare has now been completed," a Garda statement confirmed today. "Nothing of evidential value to these investigations was recovered."

An Garda Síochána said it would continue to keep the families involved updated on the progress of the investigations.

While the search has been completed, Gardaí remain at the scene to complete necessary site works on these private lands.

During the course of the search the remnants of a previously undiscovered historical settlement were identified and the National Monuments Service notified.

Ms Jacob disappeared in 1998 when the 18-year-old went missing near her home in Newbridge. She is one of at least six women who disappeared without a trace in the eaat of the country in the 1990s.

Three years ago, her case was upgraded to a murder investigation. The case of Jo Jo Dullard was also upgraded to murder earlier this year.

The 21-year-old went missing from Moone in Co Kildare in 1995.

The search of woodland at Brewel East, on the Kildare/Wicklow border, began earlier this month.