A devastated woman says her murdered mother may have been slain by a serial killer, as she launches a new appeal for
information.
Today is the 36th anniversary of the disappearance of Antoinette Smith, who vanished in Dublin city in the early hours of the morning after attending a David Bowie concert in Slane. The 27-year-old’s body was found nine months later, on April 3, 1988, at Glendoo Mountain, Co Wicklow.
Her daughters Lisa and Rachel were only seven and four years old respectively when their mother disappeared. As seven other women vanished in Leinster in the 1990s, Rachel said: “It’s very possible that it could be linked to a serial killer.
“So many other people in later years have gone missing. It’s like the pattern of how it happened to my Mam and how she was found. Whoever is responsible, he’s sick and twisted in the head. I know it’s definitely premeditated, definitely well planned out.
Read more: Gardai renew appeal on 36th anniversary of Antoinette Smith's disappearance
“It wasn’t just a row or an argument that got out of hand, or an accident. You don’t go up there into the Wicklow Mountains for nothing.
“It’s not going up there to party. It’s so isolated. You’re cut off from everybody up where she was found.
“I’d like to think she was dead when she went up there, and she was just buried up there.”
Sex beast Larry Murphy has been ruled out as a suspect and Rachel says no one else is in the frame. She added: “It’s a complete mystery.”
She says her mother, who lived in Crumlin, was enjoying a night out when she met her attacker. Rachel said: “She did have a violent death. She was found with a black bag over her head and tied tightly around her neck.
“She was hit on the head with something, but we’re not sure what.” Rachel believes the case can still be solved, either through a forensic breakthrough or a new witness.
She said: “Anybody with any information – no matter how small or big – please forward it to the guards and they can decide if it’s worth looking into. There could be someone who’s stuck in a bad relationship that’s broken down and is still afraid to come forward.
“Please do the right thing and come forward, so we can get some closure.
“There’s someone out there who knows what happened. There’s definitely someone out there who’s withholding information.
“You can’t just disappear like that. So many people have gone missing and there’s no trace of them whatsoever.
“How can so many people just disappear without a trace on this little island?”
Rachel is also calling for the gardai to ramp up their investigation.
She said: “What we’re hoping is that, with the technology they have now, they would re-examine the items that were found with Mam and send them off for DNA sampling.
“That would see if it’s possible to get a break in the case.”
Rachel will mark today’s anniversary in a simple way, with her dad Carl and the rest of her family. She said: “We would text each other and check in throughout the day, and we’ll light a candle or let off a balloon or something.
“Go off for a bite to eat. Just to say we’re thinking of her.”
Rachel, now 40, added: “I’d say she misses the milestones in our lives.
“Like she missed out on our 20s, 30s, 40s. She missed out on relationships and stuff. She missed celebrating Mother’s Day, Christmas Day, family occasions, and all the big events. But we still have a life. We can’t fall apart because if we fall apart, there’s no one fighting to get justice for Mam.”
A Garda spokesman said: “Gardai are urging individuals who, 36 years on, may want to come forward, to do so, especially if relationships/associations may have changed over the years. Anyone with info can contact Gardai in Bray at 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
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