Gardaí investigating the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in west Cork have issued a renewed appeal for information about the French film producer's death.
It is almost 26 years since Ms Toscan du Plantier's body was discovered at an isolated laneway leading to her holiday home near Schull in west Cork. Her murder remains unsolved.
Last June, it was announced that the case would be fully examined by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team, following what was described as a scoping exercise which took around a year to complete.
This afternoon, Superintendent Joe Moore of Bantry Garda Station said those close to Sophie "deserve to know what happened to their mother, daughter, wife, friend".
Paris-born Ms Toscan du Plantier bought her holiday home in Dunmanus West, Toormore, Cork in late 1993.
On 20 December 1996, she arrived in Ireland from France, travelling first into Dublin Airport and then connecting to Cork Airport, arriving there at 2.30pm.
She hired a silver Ford Fiesta, with the registration 96-C-14459, and travelled to the Mizen Peninsula.
Her body was discovered near her home at about 10am on 23 December.
Speaking today, Supt Moore said the gardaí are looking to speak to anyone who had any interaction with Ms Toscan du Plantier from the time she arrived in Ireland – at Dublin or Cork airports – up until her body was discovered three days later.
"I want to speak with any person who was in the Toormore area of Co Cork between 20 December and 23 December 1996, in particular anyone who was driving on the R591 or R592.
"If you haven't spoken to gardaí already, please make contact, we need to talk to you," he said.
The media briefing heard gardaí are particularly looking to establish the movements of Ms Toscan du Plantier between 4.30pm on 22 December and the morning of 23 December, when her body was discovered.
"Any person who has knowledge of this period of time must come to An Garda Síochána and let us know exactly what happened at the home and grounds where Sophie lived during those hours on those dates," said Supt Moore.
"I believe that there are still persons who have information on Sophie’s murder and who haven’t yet spoken to gardaí - or may have spoken to gardaí but were not in a position to tell everything that they know - I am appealing to those persons, 26 years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team."
Supt Moore said that the primary focus of the investigation is the victim, Ms Toscan du Plantier, and her family.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Bantry Garda Station at 027-20860, your local garda station or the Garda Confidential line 1800 666 111.
Supt Moore added: "I appeal to people who have information relative to Sophie’s murder not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value. Let us make that decision. I cannot reiterate that enough."
