SIGHTING RIDDLE

Sophie Toscan murder probe cops hunt ID of mystery man following her before death to tie ‘loose ends’ prior to DDP file

Sophie was murdered outside her holiday home in Schull, west Cork, days before Christmas in 1996

• Published: 7:00, 2 Apr 2024
• Updated: 9:54, 2 Apr 2024

• Published: Invalid Date,

COPS probing the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier are trying to identify a mystery man seen following her by four different people in the days before she died.

They have approached a number of witnesses with a view to reinterviewing them as part of their cold case review.

Among them is former Schull shop owner Marie Farrell and her son Michael who now lives in Australia.

He was only ten when he and his mother saw the man behaving strangely near the French woman’s holiday home outside Schull, west Cork, several hours after the murder at Christmas 1996.

It is understood Ms Farrell believes this is the same man she saw following Sophie the day before she died. He is said to look foreign and also spoke French.

A source said: “Gardai have approached Marie Farrell and her son Michael to interview them again, but it hasn’t happened yet.”

Gardai are trying to establish if this was the same individual who was spotted in a pub in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, with visible scratches on his face and cuts on his hands 24 hours after the murder.

The owner of the pub, who is now dead, reported him to the police at the time.

He was spoken to by a local Garda and let go. He subsequently fled the country.

A photofit was drawn at the time and a few other locals said they saw him. Gardai are trying to establish who he was and if Sophie knew him.

They are also believed to be going through her personal dairies to see if there are any new leads.

A source said: “We are trying to identify this person to see if they had anything to do with the murder.

Face to face interview with Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder prime suspect Ian Bailey

“This is one of the loose ends that has to be tied up before a file on the case can go to the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

Gardai privately admit no other new suspect in the murder has yet emerged apart from Ian Bailey, who died recently from a heart attack.

The 66-year-old always insisted he was innocent. He was arrested twice but never charged.

Probe continues

Gardai say, despite his death, their investigations will continue and a file will eventually go to the DPP.

This may recommend whether Bailey should have been charged or not.

It is believed Bailey’s lawyers will defend his name if that happens.

TIMELINE OF SOPHIE CASE

December 23, 1996: Sophie’s battered body, still in night clothes, is found outside her holiday home near Schull, west Cork, by a neighbour.

February 10, 1997: Ian Bailey is arrested at his home for the murder but is later released.

April 17, 1997: Inquest hears Sophie died from multiple injuries, including laceration of the brain and skull fracture, caused by a blunt instrument.

January 27, 1998: Ian Bailey is arrested and quizzed for a second time, but is again released without charge.

January 2002: A review is ordered into the murder investigation after a highly critical report is written by a solicitor.

June 2008: A French magistrate orders the exhumation of Sophie’s body for a post-mortem and forensic examination.

July 2008: An inquiry into the handling of the murder probe recommends no prosecution.

June to October 2009: French authorities travel to West Cork to view the crime scene and meet Irish investigators. Two Garda detectives travel to Paris for quiz on probe.

February 19, 2010: A French judge issues a European Arrest Warrant.

April 23, 2010: Gardai arrest Bailey and he is brought before the High Court and granted bail.

March 18, 2011: High Court orders Bailey to surrender to European arrest warrant but he appeals to Supreme Court.

March 1, 2012: The Supreme Court rules in Bailey’s favour in his appeal against extradition.

May 31, 2019: Bailey is found guilty of Sophie’s murder in his absence in France. He is sentenced to 25 years in jail.

June 21, 2019: French authorities issue a third European Arrest Warrant.

October 12, 2020: High Court rules against Bailey being extradited. Later, State decides not to appeal. It ends attempts to extradite Bailey.