MURDER HUNT 

Sophie’s killer will be nailed if gardai look at new suspects apart from Ian Bailey in cold case review, Sheridan says

1st July 2022

FILM director Jim Sheridan is convinced Gardai will hunt down Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s killer if they look at other suspects apart from Ian Bailey.

He believes by using new DNA laser infrared techniques they may get a genetic match for the evil brute from the two rocks used to kill the French beauty at the scene.

Tragic French film producer Sophie, 39, was battered to death at her holiday cottage in Schull, West Cork in December 1996.

Self-confessed chief suspect Ian Bailey, 65, was arrested twice in connection with the shocking killing but has never been charged.

After investigating the shocking unsolved killing for over five years and making the smash hit Sky documentary series Murder At The Cottage Sheridan believes the Gardai can solve the case if they take an “open mind” approach.

Gardai announced this week that the Cold Case unit will undertake a full review into the murder.

The development has been welcomed by the victim’s son who described it as “very good news for justice”.

Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud said his family has “big expectations” from it after waiting over 26 years.

He explained: “My family are all deeply involved in the fight for justice of my mother.

“I think this new investigation is, in a way, the gardaí recognising there have been some mistakes during the original investigation, and so they need to do a new one.”