Megan Mulquiney Disappeared Without A Trace 39 Years Ago

Somewhere in the graveyard of Canberra's oldest church, there's a plaque for Megan Mulquiney.

But for her mother, Dorothy Mulquiney, it means very little.

In 1984, a plaque was installed outside a shopping mall in south Canberra, in the years following the unexplained disappearance of Megan.

Nearly 39 years have passed, and to this day, the investigation into Megan's disappearance remains fruitless. Despite being a reserved 17-year-old, in her final year of high school, employed at Big W, and passionate about ice skating, Megan has not been sighted or heard from.

To Dorothy, the presence of a plaque offers no solace in the absence of Megan's body, without any explanations, or closure.

Years ago, it was the priest at St. John's Church who proposed a service for Megan, but Dorothy only consented to go. As she drove to the church, she recollects listening to a radio news segment concerning a slain child.

Dorothy remained in the church for a brief period before standing up and walking out.

"I thought, I can't do this, God, what are you doing? And I went," she says.

Despite the priest visiting her home afterward and expressing his understanding, acknowledging her right to be upset, it was already too late for Dorothy.

"I just decided, OK God, until you give me some answers, I'm not going back to church.

"And I haven't."

Over the years, like any other woman with a job, a household to maintain, a partner, and two other children, Dorothy has carried on with her life as best as she could.

"I suppose I'm tough, but it still gets me," she says.

On a Tuesday, almost 39 years after the incident, Mrs. Mulquiney recalled how Megan left work at midday on Saturday, July 28 and headed towards the bus stop after leaving the mall, but she never arrived. Mrs. Mulquiney added that Megan was known for her reliability, so when she didn't come back home within an hour, she started to worry.

There have been few leads in the years since, and just one suspect - convicted rapist Paul Vincent Phillips, who lived in the area at the time Megan vanished.

He kidnapped another 17-year-old girl outside the Woden Plaza just 2 months after Megan's disappearance, and was caught within 24 hours.

Despite never being charged in relation to Megan's case, he was identified as a prime suspect during a 2009 inquest, which concluded that it was highly probable that Megan was murdered. He had previously confessed to several other crimes, both before and after the time of Megan's disappearance, and as a result, he spent a significant portion of his adult life in and out of jail.

At the inquest, Phillips testified in front of Mrs. Mulquiney and her family, where he spoke candidly and in a chilling manner about his involvement in various crimes concerning young women. However, he denied any involvement in Megan's disappearance. Phillips passed away in April 2018. Later that year, the police reopened the case following the receipt of new information from several individuals.

The Megan Mulquiney investigation remains active. Anyone with information about her disappearance is urged to contact investigators directly on 0457 844 917. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000