Appeal for information on death of mother-of-two

GARDAÍ have this week launched a renewed appeal for information on the murder of Clondalkin woman Antoinette Smith, whose body was found in the Wicklow Mountains in 1988.

The mother-of-two disappeared at age 27 following a David Bowie concert in Slane Castle on Saturday, July 11, 1987, which she attended with a friend.

Antoinette and her friend returned to Dublin by bus, arriving at Parnell Square at around 11pm. They went to the La Mirage Discotheque on Parnell Street.

While in the club they met two men that they knew. They joined the men’s company and remained with them until they all left shortly after 2am.

Antoinette’s friend parted company when they left the club. Antoinette remained for some time and spoke to the two men until all three walked the short distance to the taxi rank on O’Connell Street.

The men got a taxi to the Ballymun area, while Antoinette continued to walk by the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell Street towards O’Connell Street Bridge – this was the last definitive sighting of her.

Antoinette was subsequently reported missing to gardaí by her husband. She remained missing for nine months until her remains were discovered on Glendoo Mountain.

The young woman’s body was discovered in an isolated drain at Glendoo Mountain on Old Military Road in Glencree, Wicklow, the following April. She had been strangled.

Antoinette’s daughters Rachel and Lisa were aged four and seven respectively at the time of their mother’s disappearance.

Rachel previously told The Echo: “Someone out there knows what happened to my mam.

“She was after going to see her idol in Slane Castle – there’s no way in her right mind she would be voluntarily going up to the Wicklow Mountains at night-time.

“We’re appealing to the public to help – if they have any information, we would ask them to please pass it on to the guards.

“It would mean a great deal to us for her murder to be solved, so we can finally put her to rest and she can rest peacefully.”

A renewed appeal for information was launched by gardaí at Bray Garda Station this week, where they asked those who may have information since 1987, or who have come into possession of information in the intervening years, to come forward.

The guards noted in their appeal that they’re anxious to assure the public that they will treat anyone assisting the investigation in a sensitive manner.

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