The Republic has one of the lowest incidences of murder in the world but there is a history of seemingly random attacks on women. Many years after they were killed, a number of murder investigation files into these random deaths remain open, leaving the Garda baffled and communities frightened. While in most cases of murder the victim is known to the killer, there are occurrences of women being accosted by men who are strangers to them and sometimes being killed.
The recent history of disturbing attacks on and murders of women include: Patricia O'Toole, a 31-year-old woman from south Co Dublin who was waylaid after spending a night socialising with friends and beaten to death by Pte Sean Courtney in September 1991.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the 38-year-old Parisian who was beaten to death at her holiday home in Schull, Co Cork, in December 1996.
Belinda Periera (26), a Sri Lankan prostitute working from an apartment in Liffey Street, Dublin, who was beaten to death, also in December 1996.
Marilyn Rynn, who was raped and murdered as she made her way home from an office Christmas party in December 1995.
Imelda Riney who was murdered along with her infant son Liam, and Father Joe Walsh in Clare in May 1994. The killer, a local young man Brendan O'Donnell, later killed himself in prison.
Ann Gillespie (18) and her mother Annie who were shot dead by John Gallagher in September 1988. Gallagher, who claimed to be insane at the time, was recently released from prison.
Deirdre Mulcahy (10), who was waylaid and brutally murdered near her home in Midletown, Co Cork in September 1989.
Siobhan Brennan (15), again waylaid and murdered near her home in Carrick-on-Shannon in November 1991.
Ann Marie Duffin, who was murdered by a young man who forced his way into her home in Tralee in April 1996.
Joyce Quinn, the Co Kildare woman who was attacked and killed by a young local man at the Curragh in January 1995.
Patricia Furlong, who was raped and strangled at the Fraughan beer festival in the Wicklow Mountains in July 1982.
Antoinette Smith (27), who was murdered after attending a rock concert in July 1987
At least seven women, mostly young, have disappeared and are believed to have been murdered and secretly buried. They are: Annie McCarrick (26), who disappeared in March 1993; Evan Brennan, last seen in July 1993; Josephine Dollard, who disappeared in November 1995; Fiona Pender, who was killed in August 1996; Ciara Breen, who disappeared in Dundalk in February 1997; Fiona Sinnot, who was killed in Wexford in February 1998; and Deirdre Jacob, abducted near her home in Newbridge, Co Kildare in July 1998.