Gardaí have launched a fresh appeal for information on the murder of a new-born baby girl in south Dublin nearly 50 years ago.

Noleen Murphy was murdered within 24 hours of being born in April 1973.

Her body was left in a car park outside a furniture shop between Northumberland Avenue and Anglesea Lane in Dun Laoghaire Town Centre.

The baby’s mother, Cynthia Owen, was only 11-years-old at the time of her birth and has said she had been raped and sold to men for sex.

The area where new-born baby Cynthia Owen was found dead in April 1973, 15-10-2020. Image: Stephanie Rohan/Newstalk

Gardaí said the murder has been the subject of “sustained investigation” in the years since; however, “at this point, all available lines of inquiry have now been exhausted.”

This morning, Detective Superintendent Martin Creighton launched a fresh appeal for any information on the murder.

“We have this tiny infant who was probably only about 24-hours old, left in the lane there, near where we are standing now,” he said.

“That is why we are making the appeal. To try and get information. To try and get justice for baby Noleen.”

As of today, no-one has ever been charged with the murder.

Investigation

Gardaí said Cynthia Owen was formally identified as the baby’s mother at a 2007 inquest into the death.

At the time of the murder her family was living White’s Villas in Dalkey and Gardaí are appealing to anyone who lived in the area at the time and may still have information to contact them.

They are also appealing to anyone who may have previously come forward but felt they could not provide Gardaí with all the information they had at the time to come forward again.

Anyone with information which will assist in this investigation should contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on 01 666 5000; anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Reporting from Stephanie Rohan