Ireland Crime

Reports that Gardaí have used the Prum Convention to check the boot DNA profile against international databases of over 11 million samples, and that the Serious Crime Review Team has obtained DNA from about half a dozen of the dozen people who may have handled the victim's body, clothing or footwear, with no match yet found.

Gardaí obtained a warrant for the unedited podcast recording, which was recorded in March 2023. Bailey, who was convicted in absentia in France, is described as the prime suspect, and no new charge is reported.

Adds that gardaí obtained a warrant and seized the full unedited podcast recording, and that officers are interested in comments by Bailey that may conflict with his earlier statements.

Reports that Sophie Toscan du Plantier's uncle Jean Pierre Gazeau challenges Ian Bailey over details of her movements in Schull on 21 December 1996, based on Bailey's podcast. Bailey denies the claim, and the Garda serious crime review team is re-examining the case. Also records Bailey's 2019 French conviction and the Irish courts' refusal to extradite him.

Reports that Gardaí received new information after their pre-Christmas appeal, that Interpol will assist with interviews in France and the UK, that Ian Bailey was recently assaulted in Bantry, and that director Jim Sheridan is set to make a new film on the inquiry.

Feature piece marking the 26th anniversary; details the cold case review launched in 2022, two documentaries (Jim Sheridan on Sky, one on Netflix), Ian Bailey's quotes to the Irish Mirror, the family's position on extradition, Jim Sheridan's belief the killer came from France, and forensic details including an unmatched blood sample and a second unidentified DNA sample on boot laces.

Announces the decision to conduct a full cold case review; Ian Bailey's solicitor Frank Buttimer welcomes the review and says Bailey will assist; references previous reviews (McNally, McAndrew, Fennelly Commission of Enquiry); Gardaí renew appeal for information via Bantry Garda Station.

New witness testimony from Yvonne Ungerer about Bailey's comments regarding the Kealfadda Bridge sighting; Marie Farrell's changing identification over the years; new lead about an associate of Daniel Toscan du Plantier; 25th anniversary of the murder marked by the family in France.

New claim by journalist Nick Foster that an unnamed source identified the killer's presence at the scene the morning after the murder; source has not yet gone to Gardaí. Also reiterates that Ian Bailey was convicted in absentia in France in 2019 and sentenced to 25 years, with Irish courts refusing extradition.

Reports that four detectives have begun a preliminary scoping exercise on the case file, which was submitted four times to the DPP; covers the son's request for a review, Ian Bailey's three letters to the Commissioner, a 30,000-signature petition by Amanda Large, and Gardaí's investigation of social media rumours about a deceased retired garda.

Reports Jean-Pierre Gazeau's public response to Macron's call for Bailey to go to France, notes Bailey's in-absentia conviction in Paris two years prior, the lack of any Irish charges, and that Bailey's solicitor says he will not travel to France.

Macron says a new French trial could be arranged if Bailey travels to France; Martin appeals for information and notes the case is still being investigated; Ireland will not extradite Bailey.

New witness statement from an elderly West Cork man who claims a face-to-face conversation in 2001 at a named premises in which another person confessed to helping clean blood-stained clothing after the murder. The man had previously given other statements and got in touch with a solicitor after two new documentaries about the case.

Ian Bailey's personal comments in a Sunday Independent interview with Sinead O'Connor; references Jim Sheridan's Sky documentary 'Murder At The Cottage' and Netflix's 'Sophie: A Murder in West Cork'; Sheridan's RTÉ Radio One interview with Ray D'Arcy also reported.

Article compares Netflix documentary's portrayal of the party confrontation with the DPP's 2001 file, noting that Bailey did not react to Diane Martin's accusation and later continued playing music while she chanted 'Ian is a murderer'. The file also notes no forensic evidence and unreliable witnesses.

Article details how the 2001 DPP file and Netflix's documentary differ in presenting the night of the murder, specifically the dogs barking from 10.30pm to 2am and the fact that Ian and Jules were in a pub when the first dog was reportedly upset. The DPP file was made available to Bailey's legal team ahead of a Supreme Court appeal.

Jim Sheridan's comments on his documentary 'Murder At The Cottage: The Search for Justice For Sophie'; mentions former DPP Eamonn Barnes' assessment of the evidence, the Paris in-absentia conviction, and the High Court extradition ruling.

New witness Marie Farrell identified a man near the house on the night of the murder as an associate of Daniel Toscan du Plantier; filmmaker Jim Sheridan provided the information while making his documentary; Gardaí need DPP approval to seek French police cooperation; Farrell previously retracted her identification of Ian Bailey in 2005.