Fresh appeal to find Raonaid’s killer

A SMALL number of people still have information that could pinpoint the killer of Raonaid Murray five years ago.

Gardaí yesterday appealed directly to these individuals to break their silence and come forward. The request comes on the fifth anniversary of the brutal murder of the teenager in Glenageary, south Dublin.

The fatal stabbing of the 17-year-old on September 4, 1999, shocked the country and sparked one of the biggest gardaí murder investigations ever. However, despite 8,000 interviews, 3,000 statements and 12 arrests, gardaí have yet to make a breakthrough.

Gardaí made a fresh appeal yesterday, particularly to a number of youths in the area at the time.

Supt Donal Neill of Dun Laoghaire Garda Station said: “We believe there are people out there with information that haven’t come forward. There are a small number who may not have been as helpful as they could have been.

“There were a lot of young people in the area at the time. They are now five years more mature than they were. Perhaps their minds are ticking over, they are thinking of this crime and maybe they would like to come forward and help us.” All information would be treated in confidence. Supt O’Neill also appealed to those people who might be protecting the killer.

“We believe somebody out there has to know who committed this crime and may be protecting and not coming forward.”

He countered an impression among some people that gardaí knew the killer’s identity. “If we knew who committed the crime we wouldn’t be here today making a fresh appeal.”

Gardaí are appealing to anyone else who was in the Dun Laoghaire and Glenageary areas between 11.20pm on September 3 and 12.40am on September 4 to come forward.

Raonaid left Scott’s Pub in Dun Laoghaire at 11.20pm before walking the relatively short distance to her home in Silchester Park in Glenageary.

She took a short cut through a laneway, linking Silchester Road to Silchester Crescent. At 12.10am, some 200 yards from her home, her killer fatally stabbed her.

He said gardaí were in constant contact with Raonaid’s parents, Jim and Deirdre. The family declined to comment yesterday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on 01-6665012 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1-800-666-111. There is a reward of €190,000 for information leading to an arrest.