THE chilling murder of Antoinette Smith is one of the most horrific unsolved crimes to have occurred in Ireland.
The mum-of-two disappeared after attending the David Bowie gig at Slane Castle on July 11, 1987.
Antoinette was not seen again until her remains were discovered by three children playing hide and seek after a family picnic on Gleendoo Mountain in south Dublin nine months later, on Easter Monday, 1988.
Antoinette had lay beneath the bogland with two plastic bags tied over her head for nine months and no cause of death could ever be established because of the decomposition of her body.
State Pathologist Professor John Harbison wrote in the post mortem: “Two plastic bags were found over the head, with the inner one knotted tightly around the neck.”
But it has since been revealed that the two plastic bags and rope used to tie the bags by her killer have gone missing in Garda evidence.
A dog walker in an area just two miles from where Antoinette’s body was later found said he had seen a man speaking to another man, neither of whom were dressed for hillwalking, the morning after the young mum was at the Bowie gig.
A taxi driver claimed that he had picked up two men and woman who looked like Antoinette near O’Connell Street at around 3:30am on the night she vanished and brought them to Rathfarnham village.
But, almost four decades after she was brutally killed, no person has ever been arrested or charged in relation to Antoinette’s murder.
As today marks 38 years since her disappearance, Gardai issued an appeal for any information, no matter how small or irrelevant it may seem, that may assist in their investigation.
A spokesperson said: “It is now 38 years since Antoinette Smith was last seen on O’Connell Street, Dublin.
“Gardai at Bray Garda Station are renewing their appeal to the public for assistance and information in relation to the disappearance and murder of Antoinette Smith.
“Gardai are appealing to those who may have information since 1987, or who may have come into possession of information in the intervening years, to come forward.
“Gardai are urging individuals, who 38 years on may want to come forward, to do so, especially if relationships/ associations may have changed over the years.
“Gardai are 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, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
FINAL MOVEMENTS
On July 11, 1987, Antoinette and a friend attended the Bowie concern in Slane before returning to Dublin by bus, arriving at Parnell Square at around 11pm.
Antoinette had arranged for her two children, aged seven and four, to spend that night with their father Karl, leaving her free for the night.
After arriving back in Dublin city centre, Antoinette and her friend went clubbing at the La Mirage Discotheque on Parnell Street.
They met two men they knew while in the nightclub and remained with them until they all left shortly after 2am.
Antoinette’s friend parted company when they left the club – but gave her a key to her house before she left – whilst Antoinette remained 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 Bridge.
These were the last known movements of the 27-year-old woman, who was subsequently reported missing to Gardai by her husband.
HUSBAND TREATED AS SUSPECT
Antoinette’s innocent husband Karl Smith previously told us how he’d been treated as a suspect at the time.
He believes the mum of his girls Rachel and Lisa was possibly the victim of a serial killer.
Karl said: “I last saw her on the day of the concert and she was in great form — she certainly wasn’t under any type of duress.
“We were separated at the time but we had many happy years together after our wedding in 1979 and it was wonderful to have two lovely daughters.
“When she didn’t turn up I thought she might have been with her friends or something.
“The last thing I would have thought was that she had been abducted or murdered.”
Karl said he was in the car with his father in Easter 1998 when he heard on the radio that a body had been found near the Lemass monument on Glendoo Mountain.
He said: “I knew I would have been treated as a suspect because there were other women at the time who were murdered by their husbands.
“I was treated as a suspect when the real killer was still out there. I know they had to look at all angles but it wasn’t a very nice experience.
“I wasn’t even allowed to identify her — I wasn’t allowed near the morgue. I never even got to tell my children their mother was dead.”
FAMILY’S PAIN
Antoinette’s daughters, Lisa and Rachel, have vowed they will continue to fight for justice for their mum for as long as it takes.
Antoinette’s eldest daughter Lisa said: “We are reminded of the day she vanished, the day her remains were recovered and every time we hear about violence against women.
“Our mother saw the worst of humanity and yet that person could still be out there today.”
She added: “When my mam was brutally taken from us that type of crime was rare in Ireland but it’s a lot more prevalent now.
“If someone was convicted over my mam’s case it would send a strong message that extreme forms of violence against women will not be tolerated.
“It’s disgusting no one has been held accountable for committing such a horrific attack on another human being.
“It’s awful to think that a young woman who simply went out to a concert never came home. It’s horrific to think that I could go to concert and not get home to my kids.
“When we see other cases of violence against women it just brings trauma back for us.”
mum on the day of the Slane concert, adding: “I want to know what she was like that day.
“Was she in good form, did she talk about Lisa and I, and did she enjoy the concert?
“If there are people who were interviewed at the time by Gardai I would ask them to search their conscience and come forward again. We are entitled to have our questions answered after all this time.”
