More than 8,000 people have been interviewed since a Dublin teenager was brutally stabbed to death five years ago, but senior gardaí admitted today they are no closer to solving her murder.
Raonaid Murray
Gardaí investigating the murder of Raonaid Murray (17) close to her home in Glenageary, south Dublin, on September 4th, 1999, today renewed their appeal for information that might help solve the case on the anniversary of her death.
Ms Murray (17) died after suffering several fatal stab wounds to her side, chest and shoulder in an attack near her home at Silchester Park, Glenageary, around 12.10 a.m. that date.
Her body was found about 20 minutes later by her older sister, Sarah Murray, where she had collapsed just 50 yards from her home.
Despite taking 3,000 statements and making 12 arrests, gardaí have as yet failed to secure a conviction in the case.
Superintendent Donal Neill said he was confident there was someone who held the missing link. "We believe there are people out there who hold vital information," he said.
"There may be young people out there who were afraid to come forward at the time, but now, five years on, would be more comfortable speaking to us.
"We believe there may be a belief among the public that we know who the culprit is. But that is not so, and we are appealing to anyone who was in Glenageary that night, who may have seen anything suspicious, to come forward."
The garda in charge of the case, Inspector Eamon O'Reilly, recently apologised to the Murray family for failing to bring the student's killer to justice.
A new team was recently drafted in to review the investigation, in line with normal practice in such unsolved cases, but no new information has come to light. A reward of €190,000 has been offered for information leading to the prosecution of the killer.
An inquest into Ms Murray's death was adjourned last month until September 2005 to allow the inquiry to continue.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Garda Incident Room (Dún Laoghaire) at 01 6665012 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666111.
Additional reporting: PA