Sophie Toscan du Plantier: Gardai say murder investigation very much 'alive' as 28th anniversary of killing nears
The Garda Cold Case Review into Sophie's death is ongoing, alongside the main murder investigation
Gardai hunting the killer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier say the investigation is very much "alive" despite the death of the main suspect Ian Bailey earlier this year.
It is the 28th anniversary of Sophie's brutal murder next Monday and the cops have issued a new public appeal for any information in relation to her killing.
The Garda Cold Case Review into Sophie's death is ongoing, alongside the main murder investigation.
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In a statement Gardai said: "The Garda investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996 remains active and ongoing.
"Throughout the investigation An Garda Siochana has appealed to any person with any information in relation to the investigation to come forward in order to assist us.
"The Garda Serious Crime Review Team's review into the murder which began in June, 2022 continues. On the finalisation of this review, the Serious Crime Review Team will provide recommendations to the investigation team.
"Gardai continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact the investigation team at Bantry Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666111."
Sophie was last seen alive in the afternoon before she died by shopkeeper Maria Farrell walking through the streets of Schull, west Cork.
She claimed the French beauty was being followed by an individual who was later identified by filmmaker Jim Sheridan who made a five part documentary on the killing a few years ago.
The man is said to live in Paris and was known by Sophie's late ex-husband Daniel who was having an affair at the time. Gardai have yet to say whether this individual is a suspect or not in the murder.
Mr Sheridan made a detailed statement to the police of what he discovered.
Sophie's family are adamant that English man Ian Bailey is the killer following his conviction for murder in absentia by a court in Paris in 2019. Bailey never served a day in prison even though he received a 25 year sentence.
Bailey, a former journalist, also denied knowing Sophie or killing her and the Irish courts refused to extradite him because they felt the French trial was legally "unsafe".
Much of the evidence used was "hearsay" which would never be used in an Irish court of law.
Ian Bailey, 66, died suddenly last January from a suspected heart attack while walking down a street beside his home in Bantry. He was cremated within 24 hours with a private funeral on the orders of his sister and his ashes scattered at an undisclosed location.
The Gardai had been hoping that a number of key witnesses in the case might change their stories in relation to Bailey and where he was and what he did on the night of the murder but that does not appear to have happened.
In the weeks before his death Ian Bailey, in a yet to be screened interview proclaimed his innocence: "When I am dead and gone tell them I did not kill Sophie."
French filmmaker, Sophie, was battered to death with a rock 100 yards from her home. Her son Pierre-Louis who was 15 when she died spent his life seeking justice for his mother and always believed Bailey was responsible.
Pierre-Louis said he felt "free again" when he heard the main suspect in his mother's death had dropped dead.
Friends of Sophie in Schull got together during the week to remember and pay tribute to their friend on the anniversary of her death.
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