Daughters’ appeal 26 years after mum’s murder

Dublin People 13 Jul 2013

Lisa and Rachel Smith are pictured at Bray Garda Station where an appeal for information on the murder of their mother Antoinette Smith was launched by Crimestoppers. Photo by John T Ohle Photography

THE two daughters of a Southside woman who was murdered more than 26 years ago have asked for help in tracking down those responsible for killing their mum.

Antoinette Smith, from Clondalkin, was last seen on O’Connell Street at 2.15am on Sunday, July 12, 1987.

Antoinette (Angie) Smith (nee Greene), from Kilmahuddrick Court, was in the city centre after attending the David Bowie concert, which had been held at Slane Castle in Co Meath the day before.

The 27-year-old went to the Harp Bar on O’Connell Street before going on to a disco.

She then parted with her friend and was last seen walking towards O’Connell Bridge.

Nine months later, on April 3, 1988, her decomposed remains were found in the Dublin Mountains by a young family on a walk in Killakee Woods.

She had been raped and strangled and her head was reportedly covered with a plastic bag.

The case has remained unsolved for the last 26 years and in a bid to refresh people’s memories of the incident, an appeal for information was launched by Crimestoppers in Bray last week.

Attending the launch in Bray Garda Station were Antoinette’s two daughters Lisa (33) and Rachel (30) Smith.

Speaking to Southside People, Lisa, who was only seven-years-of-age at the time her mum disappeared, said she still felt there was a chance of tracking down whoever had killed her mum.

“I was only seven when this happened to my mum and Rachael was only four,

? she recalled.

“I remember her but Rachel only has vague memories.

“We were shielded from the details of what happened for many years but as we got older, we were told and it was shocking. I remember feeling disgusted that this had happened to her. To lose someone through illness or an accident is one thing but to lose them to the hands of a killer is another.

Antoinette’s is one of several cold case files that have been reopened in the hope that by publicising them they might jog someone’s memory or convince people to come forward.

“Even after all these years there is a chance that someone will remember how a person they may have been in a relationship with at the time was acting strange, or perhaps the guilty person even told someone,

? Lisa said.

“It must be hard to keep such a dark and horrible secret for so long.

“As the gardai keep saying, it doesn’t matter how small, any detail could be the one that cracks the case.

Lisa also pointed out that the perpetrator or perpetrators could be responsible for other heinous acts and that it is never too late to bring them to justice.

“It’s not just about us but about all the others who were hurt by mum

‘s death,

? she added.

“That’s why we got involved with Crimestoppers, to show that she was not just another cold case; she was a mum, an aunt, a sister and a friend.

In a follow up

‘Cracking Crime’ episode on RTE Television, other details emerged about Antoinette’s disappearance.

It was revealed that a taxi driver subsequently gave an account of a woman fitting her description getting into his car with two men.

He dropped all three at the outskirts of Rathfarnham village.

This is the last known suspected sighting of Antoinette.

A witness later came forward to say he was walking his dogs in the woods at an unusually early hour on July 12 when he saw a lone man walking towards him who hesitated and seemed uneasy.

On the day she disappeared, Antoinette was wearing dark blue denim jeans, a denim jacket, a David Bowie tee shirt, a pair of navy blue high heel shoes and was carrying a black and red Texaco sports bag.

Her Texaco sports bag has never been found.

Speaking at the press conference, Detective Superintendent Patrick Lordon said that 26 years on, they were appealing to anyone who could help with their investigation to call Crimestoppers.

“Perhaps you know somebody who was acting out of character at the time or perhaps you saw something unusual but thought little of it,

? he said.

“Even information which seems insignificant could be very important.

Anybody with information can call Crimestoppers on 1800250025. Calls to Crimestoppers are anonymous. Callers do not need to leave their name or address. There may be a reward for information that significantly helps the investigation.