Gardaí have issued a renewed appeal for information regarding the 1988 murder of 27-year-old Antoinette Smith, whose remains were discovered on Glendoo Mountain in Co Wicklow. 39 years after she was last seen in Dublin, investigators at Bray Garda Station are asking the public to come forward with any details, noting that shifting personal allegiances over the decades may lead someone to share information they previously withheld.
The Disappearance of Antoinette Smith
Antoinette Smith was last seen in the early hours of Sunday, 12 July 1987. The previous evening, she and a friend had attended a David Bowie concert in Slane, Co Meath, before returning to Dublin by bus. The pair arrived in Parnell Square at approximately 11:00 p.m. and proceeded to the La Mirage Discotheque on Parnell Street.
According to Gardaí, Smith met two men she knew at the club. She remained with them until shortly after 2:00 a.m., when the group left the venue. While her friend parted ways with the group, Smith accompanied the two men to a taxi rank on O’Connell Street. The men subsequently took a taxi to the Ballymun area, while Smith was last observed walking near the Gresham Hotel toward O’Connell Street Bridge. Her remains were discovered nine months later, on 3 April 1988, near the Lemass monument on Glendoo Mountain, close to Glencree and Enniskerry.
Antoinette Smith was a mother of two young children at the time of her disappearance; her daughter Lisa was seven years old, and her daughter Rachel was four.
Ongoing Investigation at Bray Garda Station
Detective Inspector Seamus Ryan confirmed that an incident room remains active at Bray Garda Station to manage the investigation. Despite the significant passage of time, officials believe that individuals who possess relevant information may now be in a different position to speak with authorities.
“We feel that someone out there does know something and who is to say over the intervening years allegiances may have changed and people’s point of view may have differed somewhat,” Inspector Ryan stated. He emphasized that no detail is too small to report, and all information provided to the investigation will be handled in the strictest confidence.
The 39-year gap in this investigation presents significant challenges for forensic and testimonial evidence. However, cold case inquiries often rely on the shifting nature of social connections; as relationships end or priorities evolve, individuals who were previously reluctant to speak may decide to assist authorities, potentially providing the missing link in a decades-old mystery.
Potential Next Steps in the Case
As Gardaí continue to review every strand of the investigation, the primary goal remains identifying the events that occurred between Smith’s departure from the taxi rank and the discovery of her remains. Authorities are likely to continue cross-referencing new tips with established witness statements from 1987. If new information emerges, investigators may be able to re-examine existing evidence in a new light, though the success of the appeal depends heavily on the public’s willingness to come forward after nearly four decades.
Anyone with information can contact the investigation team at Bray Garda Station at 01 666 5300, or reach out to the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Antoinette Smith last seen?
She was last seen walking near the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street in Dublin, heading toward O’Connell Street Bridge, in the early hours of 12 July 1987.
When were her remains discovered?
Her remains were found on 3 April 1988, on Glendoo Mountain, near the Lemass monument in Co Wicklow.
How can the public provide information to the investigation?
Information can be reported to the incident room at Bray Garda Station at 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or at any local garda station.
Do you believe that the passage of time encourages individuals to share information they might have previously kept secret?
