'Substantial' reward offered in bid to solve 30 year old murder in Laois

Friends of the late Marie Kilmartin are offering a “substantial” cash reward in a bid to solve her murder. 

The 35-year-old Galway native lived in Baladd, Portlaoise, and worked in the Day Care Centre in Portlaoise. 

Gardaí say Marie was last seen at her home in Beladd in Portlaoise on December 16, 1993 at approximately 4pm. She received a phone call before leaving her home. Her body was discovered on June 10, 1994 on bog land between Mountmellick and Portarlington. She had been strangled. 

Now, three decades on, her friends are hoping to find answers. They have set up a Facebook page and taken out an ad offering a reward for information leading to a conviction. 

“A substantial cash reward is available to the person or persons with adequate information regarding the death of Marie Kilmartin, Beladd, Portlaoise in 1993.

Marie disappeared in mid-December of that year and her body was found on the 10th of June the following year, 1994, at Pim's Lane Mountmellick Co Laois, sixteen kilometres from her home. Her death was established as murder,” they stated.

They said: “Any person who supplies such adequate information need not be involved in any prosecution or required to appear as a witness, and anonymity can be assured.

The purpose of the information sought is to identify the person(s) responsible and secure a conviction.

The significant reward money has been put up by friends of Marie Kilmartin.” 

On the 30th anniversary of Marie’s disappearance in December of 2023, Gardaí renewed their appeal for information in relation to the murder. 

They said three arrests have been made as part of their investigation, but to date, no one has been charged.

An Garda Síochána said they would continue to liaise closely with the Maries’ family in relation to the investigation.

They thanked the public who have been of assistance in this investigation to date.

"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,” they said. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room at Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

In conclusion, gardaí said they will treat any interactions with confidentiality, compassion and sensitivity.