The sister of murdered JoJo Dullard has expressed her hope of laying the missing woman to rest beside their parents.

Gardaí commenced a major search operation in Co Wicklow as part of the long-running disappearance of Dullard and fellow missing woman Deirdre Jacob.

The search is being carried out on open ground at a location near the Wicklow and Kildare border.

Speaking for the first time since the latest update, JoJo’s sister Kathleen Bergin, paid tribute to their late mum on her birthday.

‘Happy Heavenly Birthday Mam,’ she said in a statement, ‘You were truly a wonderful, kind and loving person. You worked hard to provide for us all after dad passed away.

‘You faced many challenges on your own and still gave us a warm and loving home. I know how much you worried for us all and how difficult it must be for you now, looking down on us as we try to bring JoJo home.’

Kathleen added that they ‘hoped’ to lay JoJo to rest beside her parents ‘soon’ before appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

‘If you have held back on coming forward for whatever reason, we hope you find the courage to do it now, to help us bring JoJo home,’ she urged, ‘JoJo was so loved and meant to much to so many different people.’

Kathleen detailed how many friends and family had passed since JoJo’s disappearance, including one of her best friends, Esther.

‘We don’t want any more loved ones to pass without answers,’ she wrote, ‘JoJo was on her own.

‘She had no one to help her, but you can help her now by coming forward.’

The ongoing search comes following a technical ground survey of the area. The survey had been carried out with the assistance of the Defence Forces under Aid to Civil Power arrangements.

The area is now undergoing a search and excavation and will be subjected to forensic examination.

Investigating Gardaí confirmed the families of both women were being kept fully informed on the most recent developments.

JoJo Dullard was 21-years-old. The Kilkenny woman vanished in November 1995 after she got a lift while making her way home.

Deirdre Jacob, 18, was from Newbridge, Co Kildare. She disappeared in July 1995 close to her family home.

In the years that have followed the disappearances, the cases have been upgraded to murder investigations, though no bodies have yet been recovered.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Kildare Garda Station on 045 527 730 or any Garda Station.

The Garda Confidential Line can be reached on 1800 666 111.