Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0621Murder · Co. Wicklow · 11 Jul 1987

Gardaí renew appeal in Antoinette Smith murder, Co Wicklow

Antoinette Smith, a 27-year-old Irish woman and mother of two, disappeared in Dublin in the early hours after attending a David Bowie concert in Slane, Co Meath, on 11 July 1987. Her body was found on 3 April 1988 at Glendoo Mountain, Co Wicklow, wrapped in plastic with rope around her neck, buried in a bog. No suspect has been named, and Larry Murphy has been ruled out of the investigation. The case was relaunched in 2013 by the Garda serious crime review team, and Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information in 2025.

  1. Reported11 Jul
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Antoinette Smith, a 27-year-old Irish woman and mother of two, disappeared in Dublin in the early hours after attending a David Bowie concert in Slane, Co Meath, on 11 July 1987.
Where
Her body was found at Glendoo Mountain, off Military Road, Co Wicklow, near the Lemass monument close to Glencree and Enniskerry.
When
Her body was discovered on 3 April 1988, nine months after she disappeared.
Cause
She was found wrapped in plastic with rope around her neck, a black bag over her head, and a blow to the head, buried in a bog.
Investigation
  • No chief suspect has been named, and Larry Murphy has been ruled out of the investigation.
  • The murder investigation was relaunched in 2013 by the Garda serious crime review team.
  • Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information, citing challenges including scarce CCTV footage and limited forensic science at the time.
Other details
  • Her daughters Lisa and Rachel were seven and four years old when she disappeared.
  • After leaving the La Mirage nightclub on Parnell Street at 2am, she walked past the Gresham Hotel towards O'Connell Street Bridge while two men she had met in the club took a taxi to Ballymun.
40 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAntoinette Smith vanished in Dublin city in the early hours after attending a David Bowie concert in Slane in 1987. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí renewed their appeal for information into the murder of Antoinette Smith, aged 27. (rte.ie)
  • whatAntoinette Smith was 27 and a mother of two at the time of her disappearance. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThey met two men they knew in the club and remained with them until 2am. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe remained missing for nine months before her body was found. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHer body was found wrapped in plastic with rope around her neck, buried in a bog. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHer body was found at Glendoo Mountain, Co Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHer remains were found on Glendoo Mountain near the Lemass monument, close to Glencree/Enniskerry. (rte.ie)
  • whereThey returned to Dublin by bus and went to La Mirage Discotheque on Parnell Street. (rte.ie)
  • whereShe attended a David Bowie concert in Slane, Co Meath. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereShe and a friend returned to Dublin by bus, arriving at Parnell Square at around 11pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThey attended the La Mirage nightclub on Parnell Street. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe men took a taxi to Ballymun. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHer body was found at Glendoo Mountain, off Military Road, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHer body was found on April 3, 1988, nine months after she disappeared. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenHer remains were found on 3 April 1988. (rte.ie)
  • whenOn 11 July 1987 she and a friend attended a David Bowie concert in Slane, Co Meath. (rte.ie)
  • whenShe was last seen alive on 11 July 1987. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHer body was discovered on Easter Sunday, 3 April 1988. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeShe was found with a black bag over her head, tied tightly around her neck. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeShe was hit on the head with something, though the family is not sure what. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationLarry Murphy has been ruled out as a suspect, and the family says no one else is in the frame. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationRachel believes the case can still be solved through a forensic breakthrough or a new witness. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationRachel is calling for gardaí to ramp up the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are urging anyone who may now come forward to do so, especially if relationships may have changed over the years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMembers of the public can contact Gardaí in Bray, the Garda Confidential Line, or any Garda station. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí at Bray are asking anyone with information from 1987, or who has come into possession of information since, to come forward. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí say they will treat anyone assisting the investigation in a sensitive manner. (rte.ie)
  • investigationInformation can be given to gardaí in Bray on 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThere is no chief suspect in the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe murder investigation was relaunched in 2013 by the Garda serious crime review team. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDet Insp Séamus Ryan of the Wicklow Garda division is making the renewed appeal. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationChallenges include the scarcity of CCTV footage and the quality of forensic science at the time. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHer daughters Lisa and Rachel were seven and four years old when she disappeared. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAt the club she met two men she knew and stayed with them until they all left shortly after 2am. (rte.ie)
  • otherHer friend left after they exited the club, but she stayed with the two men until they walked to a taxi rank on O'Connell Street. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe two men took a taxi to the Ballymun area, while she walked past the Gresham Hotel towards O'Connell Street Bridge. (rte.ie)
  • otherHer husband later reported her missing to gardaí, and her remains were found nine months later. (rte.ie)
  • otherHer children, Lisa and Rachel, were seven and four when she disappeared. (rte.ie)
  • otherHer two children, Rachel and Lisa, were seven and four at the time of the murder. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Jul2026
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Fresh appeal over murder of Antoinette Smith after 1987 Slane concert

    Renewed Garda appeal 39 years after the murder, noting no chief suspect, challenges of scarce CCTV and limited forensic science at the time, and the 2013 relaunch of the investigation by the Garda serious crime review team.

    victim, Antoinette Smith, 27, female, irish (judged from name)Antoinette Smith
  2. 11 Jul2025
    Reportedrte.ie, follow-up
    Gardaí renew appeal over murder of Antoinette Smith

    Renewed appeal marking nearly four decades since the disappearance. Adds the route of the night out in Dublin, the family's comments, and the Bray Garda contact details.

    victim, Antoinette Smith, 27, female, irish (judged from name)Antoinette Smith
  3. 12 Jul2023
    Otheririshmirror.ie, first report
    'I fear my mother was killed by serial killer' - Daughter of Irish woman speaks

    Cold-case appeal on the 36th anniversary of the 1987 disappearance of Antoinette Smith. No suspect is named; Larry Murphy has been ruled out. Her daughter Rachel calls for DNA testing of items found with her and for new information. Gardaí in Bray ask the public for information.

    victim, Antoinette Smith, 27, female, Irish, irishAntoinette Smith