It’s a horror that’s haunted West Cork since 1996.

On the morning of December 23rd that year, Sophie Toscan Du Plantier’s battered body was discovered by a neighbour outside her holiday home near Toormore, Goleen.

Today, Gardaí in West Cork assured the public that they are still determined to bring her killer to justice.

At a media briefing in Schull’s Harbour View Hotel this afternoon, Superintendent Joseph Moore of Bantry Garda Station made a formal Public Appeal for Information and provided an update to the media on the Garda investigation.

Nobody has ever been charged with the murder in Ireland, but Cork-based man Ian Bailey has been tried and convicted in absentia in a French court.

“I believe that there are still persons, who have information on Sophie’s murder and haven’t yet spoken to Gardaí, or may have spoken to Gardaí but were not in a position to tell everything that they know,” Superintendent Moore said.

“I am appealing to those persons, 26 years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team.”

Gardaí are keen to speak with anyone who may have seen Du Plantier when she arrived in Dublin on December 20th, 1996 and anyone who was in the Toormore area between then and December 23rd.

Superintendent Moore said that Sophie’s family still lives in France: “… all of her siblings deserve to know what happened to their mother, daughter, wife, friend.

“Sophie has been denied the right to experience being a grandmother, Sophie deserves the truth behind her murder to be known.” he added.

In June 2022 An Garda Síochána announced a Serious Crime Review Team review of the case and continues an “open and active investigation” into the brutal killing of the talented filmmaker carried out by a dedicated investigation team based at Bantry Garda Station.

An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to anyone who may have any information on this crime to contact the Garda investigation team at Bantry Garda Station 027 20860 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.