A new website to help solve so-called ‘cold cases’ has been launched by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team.

The crimes highlighted on the site have as yet not yielded enough evidence to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The initial five cases include that of Raonaid Murray who was murdered in September 1999.

A synopsis of a limited number of cases currently under review by the SCRT is now available on the website. Further cases will be added over time.

Speaking at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Harcourt Square today, Detective Superintendent Christy Mangan, who is in charge of the Serious Crime Review Team said: ‘This is an investigation tool widely used by a number of other police forces involved in reviews of unresolved serious crime.

‘It is hoped that persons who may have significant information in relation to a particular unresolved crime, and who in the past have been unable or unwilling to contact gardaí will do so now through this innovative process’, he said.

The Serious Crime Review Team was set-up by the Garda Commissioner in August 2007 and is based at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Harcourt Square.

There is one detective superintendent, one detective inspector, two detective sergeants, and four detective gardaí on the team reviewing all unresolved homicides within the State dating back to 1980.

The Unit has a dedicated forensic scientist from the Forensic Science Laboratory attached to it.

Trace evidence from a number of unsolved cases is currently being reassessed there.

Services of the State Pathologists Office, a clinical anthropologist and of a forensic psychologist are also available and regularly used by the team.

Each member of the unit has widespread experience in the investigation of serious crime.

They have received training both within An Garda Siochána and from Police forces in Europe, in Canada with the Royal Canadian mounted police and in America with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

It is affiliated to a number of Police Review Groups internationally.

To date, charges have been brought against three people for their involvement in historical murders.

In addition, files in a number of separate cases have been submitted to the Law Officers.