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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Kim oLeary

Gardai say 'nothing of evidential value' found in Deirdre Jacob search

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

In a statement, gardaí said that "nothing of evidential value to these investigations was recovered".

The searches began after it emerged that unusual activity was noticed on the evening Ms Jacob disappeared in 1998. 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 east 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 began on October 11th and covered an isolated wooded area in the east of the county, near the Co Wicklow border, and about 15km from Newbridge in an area known as Taggartstown.

The area was searched previously.

Gardaí hoped to find evidence relating to Ms Jacob’s suspected murder and possibly the disappearances of up to eight other women who went missing in the Leinster area in the 1990s.

The site was targeted for search after gardaí reviewed a witness statement taken during the original investigation from a man who saw suspicious activity in the area.

However, on Tuesday afternoon, the Gardai said the latest search has now been completed and that “nothing of evidential value” was recovered.

Gardaí remain at the scene to repair the site, which is private property, following the search operation.

“An Garda Síochána continues to keep the families involved updated on the progress of these investigations,” it said in a statement.

While no evidence relating to the Jacob investigation was found, gardaí did uncover the remnants of a previously undiscovered historical settlement, believed to date to about 500BC.

The National Monuments Service has been notified about the find.

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