Detective who probed Raonaid Murray murder 'carries guilt of not solving the case' every day
Former Garda Detective Alan Bailey says someone who may have provided a false alibi might now rethink what they told gardai years ago.
A former detective who investigated the murder of Raonaid Murray says he carries the “failure” of not solving the case every day.
Today marks 25 years since tragic Raonaid left Scott’s Pub in Dun Laoghaire and was stabbed to death in a laneway known as ‘The Cut.’ Former Cold Case detective Alan Bailey, who was in charge of a team of investigators who re-examined the case, says those who know something may now have children of their own - and may rethink what they told gardai years ago.
The experienced detective, who was part of the Serious Crime Review Team, told us he believes someone known to Raonaid murdered her - and others may be shielding them. “I’d appeal to anyone out there who has information to come forward, even at this late stage and afford the family some closure. It’s been 25 years of them not knowing why this was done to their daughter. My theory is that her killer was known to her and they moved in the same circle. So there are others who would know, and either through some misplaced loyalty or fear they haven’t come forward before. But now is the time. I’m not saying anything negative about them, they maybe had their reasons and it could have been loyalty or fear.”
Mr Bailey says he believes it is possible that people acted as a false alibi for a suspect years ago - but he hopes they now have a change of heart and tell gardai the truth. "I’m saying to anyone who may have been a false alibi, now is the time to come forward. "You won’t be judged. Perhaps these people are parents in their own right now. So I’m asking them to put themselves in the shoes of her parents and try to imagine what they’ve suffered for the past 25 years.”
Mr Bailey, who investigated multiple unsolved cases, says not finding the answer in the Raonaid Murray case is something he carries with him every day. "The fact that you failed to solve it, you know you carry your failures with you. As a detective you have to live with that,” he said.
But he said he firmly believes Raonaid knew her killer - and that they most likely resided in the Dun Laoghaire area. "They live locally in the area. You know at the time it was said this person was seen acting suspiciously and he was described as having a distinctive haircut, like a Noel Gallagher type haircut,” he said. But that got taken out of context and people said it was a Noel Gallagher lookalike. There’s a huge difference. It’s little things like that.”
Mr Bailey acknowledged that the case has seen many suspects, including depraved sex killer Graham Dwyer - due to the fact that he referenced her in a twisted message to his victim Elaine O’Hara.
“He would of course have been looked at. It would have been bad not to look at at the time. His crime happened after that of course. You’d be aware of different modus operandi. Someone certainly knows something and again I appeal at this late stage for anyone to come forward. Young Raonaid (17) was found stabbed to death yards from her home, at 12:20am on the morning of Saturday the 4th of September, 1999.
She had spent the evening of September 3rd socialising with friends in Scotts Pub in George’s Street in Dun Laoghaire - a place she frequented - and the last place she was seen alive. It is believed she argued with a man around her age on her walk home in the laneway between Silchester Road and her home in Silchester Park - with witnesses saying they heard a female voice expressing a cry of “leave me alone,” or “go away,” followed by a scream. In an appeal issued this week, gardai called on members of the public to come forward.
They stated that there had been over 4,500 witness statements to date - and yet “there is still no motive identified for her murder.” If anyone has any information which could assist in identifying a motive for the murder of Raonaid and / or if any person has any doubts about the truth of an alibi already provided, we would appeal for your immediate assistance,” a garda spokesperson said.
“The solving of this murder is of the utmost priority for An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána is continuing to appeal to anyone who may have information with regards to this case to come forward to them. With the passage of time some person may now be in a position to provide information to investigating Gardaí that they could not provide at the time, or maybe some person who did provide information at the time may be now in a position to provide further information.”
Detective Superintendent Brian O’Keeffe remarked "An Garda Síochána and Raonaid’s family would urge anyone with any information to please come forward. By not coming forward with that information you may be unknowingly shielding a killer.”
All information should be directed to the Incident Room at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on 01 666 5000 or 01 666 5012, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
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