Huge response to Crimestoppers appeal
A Crimestoppers campaign seeking information on the murders of three women and disappearance of five others has produced its largest ever response, it emerged today.
The anonymous freephone crime fighting service today said it has received over 100 calls since its appeal last Wednesday.
A total reward of €80,000 was pledged for information that could help gardaí solve the crimes.
Crimestoppers said gardai are currently processing leads but it was too early to know if any cash will be paid out.
Spokesperson Yvonne Hyland said: “Crimestoppers is delighted with the positive response to the campaign so far.
“The gardaí now have to investigate the information passed on by callers and it may take some time before we know if we have to pay out any cash rewards.”
Crimestoppers also reminded members of the public that it was still not too late to pass on information at this stage.
Ms Hyland added: “Crimestoppers can be called on 1800 25 00 25. You do not need to leave your name or your address. No-one will know you even made the call - your confidentiality is assured at all times.”
Crimestoppers is appealing to the public for information about the murders of three women; Antoinette Smith, Patricia Doherty and Marie Kilmartin.
It also requested leads on the whereabouts of five women; Claire Boylan, Ciara Breen, Josephine (Jo Jo) Dullard, Imelda Keenan and Annie McCarrick.
:: Antoinette Smith from Kilmahudderick, Dublin, was last seen in July 1987 in Dublin after attending the David Bowie concert in Slane. In April 1988, her body was found buried in the Dublin Mountains.
:: Patricia Doherty, 30, from Tallaght, whose body was found buried in the Dublin Mountains in June 1992. The mother of two had vanished the previous December.
:: Marie Kilmartin, 34, who disappeared from Portlaoise around Christmas in 1993. Her body was found six months later in bogland near Mountmellick.
Crimestoppers is also appealing to the public for information about the whereabouts of five other women:
:: Claire Boylan, 36 from Terenure, Dublin 6. She was last seen on Sunday, March 2 2003. She is described as 5’4“, of thin build with a pale complexion. She has short curly brown hair.
:: Ciara Breen has been missing from her home in Batchelors Walk, Dundalk, since the early hours of Thursday February 13 1997. She is described as being 5’5“, with long dark brown hair and blue eyes. She was 18 when she went missing. When last seen Ciara was wearing a black leather jacket, dark blue jeans, wine coloured sweatshirt and a white T-shirt with a picture of her own face on it.
:: Josephine (Jo Jo) Dullard has been missing since 11.30pm on Thursday, November 9 1995. At that time Jo Jo phoned her friend from a phone box in Moone, Co. Kildare. She told her friend that she was hitching a lift from Moone to her home in Callan, Co. Kilkenny. She is described as 5’4“, medium build with dark shoulder length hair. When last seen, Jo Jo was wearing a dark/black jacket zipped at the front, blue jeans, black boots and carrying a black rucksack. She was 21.
:: Imelda Keenan has been missing since January 3 1994. She was 22. She is originally from Mountmellick, Co. Laois but had been staying in rented accommodation at Lombard Street, Waterford. She is described as 5’3“, of thin build, with long brown hair and blue eyes. When last seen, Imelda was wearing leopard-skin ski pants, a white jumper, blue denim jacket and black shoes.
:: US national Annie McCarrick has been missing from her home in Sandymount, Dublin 4 since Friday March 26 1993. On that day she left her house to go walking in Enniskerry. When last seen Annie was wearing a grey/green tweed, thigh-length jacket and brown cowboy boots. Annie is described as 5’8“, 10 stone, with long brown hair. She spoke with a soft Irish-American accent.
The Crimestoppers campaign has been funded by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Dublin Bus; An Post; Ulster Bank, Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, Irish Rail, Ladbrokes and Dublin City Council.
