Unsolved

Unsolved

Some crimes don't get solved. Some families never get justice. Unsolved, hosted by award-winning crime journalist Barry Cummins and RTÉ presenter Katja Mia, is a true crime podcast made in the hope that someone listening knows something. In each episode, we investigate Irish cold cases with the victim firmly at the centre of the story, focusing on the lives behind the headlines, what we know about the crime that took them from their loved ones and the lasting impact it had. Get in touch at unsolved@rte.ie   

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Episode's summary

This episode explores the 1993 disappearance of Annie McCarrick and the decades-long investigation that followed. It details the immediate aftermath, including the intense search efforts led by her parents, John and Nancy McCarrick, and the early leads involving potential sightings in Dublin. The narrative covers the long-term investigative shifts, from the case being treated as a missing person matter to its 2023 reclassification as a murder investigation. Recent developments, including new CCTV discrepancies and a 2025 arrest in County Meath, are examined alongside theories that Annie may be hidden within a local property rather than the mountains.

Chapters

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Highlights

It's really eerie when they later look at the apartment and kind of it's like a life stood still with the ironing board out and the phone book out and like something happened almost like mid sentence or mid movement or something.

00:02:58 · The speaker describes the unsettling state of Annie's apartment, which suggested she vanished suddenly without a struggle.

for all this time, all these decades, up until recent years, Annie's case is not officially a crime at all. She's a missing person.

00:17:49 · The speaker emphasizes the lack of official criminal status for Annie's disappearance for many years.

Let's treat this as if Annie disappeared yesterday.

00:21:51 · This quote reflects the mindset intended by the new murder investigation to re-examine all evidence with fresh eyes.

it turns out the footage seems to be from 11 days before.

00:23:51 · This reveals a critical error in the long-held belief regarding the timing of the CCTV sighting in Sandymount.

I think we should be able to more openly ask could somebody be buried within a house so it's not necessarily or within an apartment block or within some type of property

00:30:37 · The speaker proposes a theory that the victim might be hidden in a local building rather than the Dublin mountains.

Episodes

13-

Annie McCarrick - Part 2

This episode explores the 1993 disappearance of Annie McCarrick and the decades-long investigation that followed. It details the immediate aftermath, including the intense search efforts led by her parents, John and Nancy McCarrick, and the early leads involving potential sightings in Dublin. The narrative covers the long-term investigative shifts, from the case being treated as a missing person matter to its 2023 reclassification as a murder investigation. Recent developments, including new CCTV discrepancies and a 2025 arrest in County Meath, are examined alongside theories that Annie may be hidden within a local property rather than the mountains.

16 Sep 2026
12-

Annie McCarrick - Part 1

This episode explores the unsolved disappearance of Annie McCarrick, an American woman with deep Irish roots who moved to Ireland in 1993. The hosts delve into her life, academic achievements at Maynooth University, and her personal connections before examining the mysterious circumstances surrounding her disappearance. The investigation details Annie's final known movements on March 26, 1993, including various alleged sightings via bus and CCTV. The episode also examines the timeline of when friends realized she was missing and discusses critical issues regarding uncommunicated information involving a potential suspect.

09 Sep 2026
11-

Antoinette Smith - Part 2

This episode details the 1988 discovery of Antoinette Smith's body in the Dublin mountains by a young boy. It recounts the grim forensic findings, the harrowing process her family endured to identify her, and the investigation into unidentified leads involving men seen near the burial site. The narrative further explores the failures in the investigation, specifically how lost paperwork and poor record-keeping led to significant evidential deficiencies. As the case faces a lack of momentum, the upcoming 40th anniversary in 2027 serves as a pivotal moment for seeking justice.

02 Sep 2026
10-

Antoinette Smith - Part 1

This episode explores the unsolved disappearance of Antoinette Smith, a young mother who vanished in 1987 after attending a David Bowie concert. The hosts delve into her personal life, including her private struggle with alopecia and the cultural landscape of Ireland during that era. The investigation follows her final known movements through Dublin's nightlife and the subsequent search efforts. The episode also examines the initial lack of urgency from authorities and the media, discussing how the absence of a crime scene and the technological limitations of 1987 may have contributed to the case being overlooked, potentially marking the start of the 'Vanishing Triangle'.

26 Aug 2026
9-

Fiona Pender - Part 3

This episode explores the investigation into Fiona Pender's 1996 disappearance, examining a potential lead involving a trial in Canada that resulted in a not guilty verdict. It also details the profound tragic impact of these unsolved crimes on the Pender family, including the loss of Josephine's husband and son. The discussion covers the recent upgrade of Fiona Pender's case to a murder investigation in 2025, which grants significant new legal powers to investigators. Additionally, the episode touches upon the emotional legacy of her family and the commemorative sculpture and walkway in Tullamore dedicated to Fiona.

21 Aug 2026