'The suffering... has never gone away': Gardaí renew Antoinette Smith appeal

Investigators hope advances in technology and changing circumstances may encourage new witnesses to come forward after almost four decades

Antoinette Smith, aged 27 at the time, was last seen in the early hours of July 12, 1987, after attending the David Bowie concert at Slane Castle with a female friend.

The inspector overseeing the investigation into the murder of a missing Dublin mother almost 40 years ago has said the suffering inflicted on her two surviving daughters “has never gone away”.

Inspector Seamus Ryan from Bray garda station said the passage of time had not diminished the importance of finding out what happened to Antoinette Smith.

Her children, Lisa and Rachael, were only aged seven and five at the time their mother vanished.

“Families are living with a big piece missing in their lives,” Inspector Ryan said, as gardaí renewed their appeal for information ahead of the 39th anniversary of Antoinette Smith’s disappearance.

Ms Smith, aged 27 at the time, was last seen in the early hours of July 12, 1987, after attending the David Bowie concert at Slane Castle with a female friend.

The two women returned to Dublin and later went to the La Mirage Discotheque on Parnell Street, where Ms Smith met two men she knew. The group left the nightclub shortly after 2am.

Her friend parted company with her, while Ms Smith remained with the two men before walking towards the taxi rank on O’Connell Street. The men took a taxi towards Ballymun, while Ms Smith continued walking in the direction of O’Connell Street Bridge.

She was reported missing by her husband and remained missing for nine months before her remains were discovered on Glendoo Mountain, near the Lemass Monument, close to Glencree and Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

The investigation was later upgraded to a murder inquiry.

Inspector Ryan said advances in technology meant that information unavailable to investigators in 1987 could now prove significant.

"It is a case we would really like to solve, and there was no CCTV then, and things would be easier to trace now. We would appeal to anyone who knows something to come forward," said Inspector Ryan.

“Ireland was a fairly safe place back then,” he said. “But everyone is a suspect, until they are not a suspect.

“Her two daughters have always kept her voice out there; it’s a tough thing to grow up with. People’s circumstances change over the years,” he said.

“Individuals who may not have been in a position to speak previously may now wish to assist.” 

Anyone with information can contact Gardaí in Bray at 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.