Sophie Toscan du Plantier was a french writer and documentarian, who owned a secluded holiday home in the picturesque west Cork town of Schull. Days before Christmas 1996, she was found savagely murdered in the lane way leading to her house. The case remains unsolved, but that doesn’t mean the matter hasn’t been heard before the courts. The prime suspect, Ian Bailey, took a defamation action against eight newspapers for reporting that he was the prime suspect in the case.

Sources:

Michael Sheridan, “Death in December: the Story of Sophie Toscan du Plantier” (2012, O’Brien Press Dublin)

Eoin English http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ian-bailey-to-fight-conspiracy-loss-352393.html

Mary Carolan https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/witness-claims-garda%C3%AD-gave-him-money-and-drugs-to-befriend-ian-bailey-1.2064719

http://www.thejournal.ie/ian-bailey-costs-decision-2033938-Apr2015/

Mary Carolan https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/ian-bailey-ordered-to-pay-all-costs-from-failed-damages-action-1.2209298

Barry Roche https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/give-me-a-crash-course-in-ian-bailey-s-high-court-case-1.2162935

Barry Roche https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/ian-bailey-case-marie-farrell-evidence-derailed-action-1.2160459

Barry Roche https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/ian-bailey-to-consider-appeal-after-receiving-high-court-ruling-1.2342325

Denise Calnan http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/ian-bailey-case-ten-things-you-need-to-know-31105366.html

Barry Roche http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ian-bailey-to-ask-dpp-to-charge-him-over-murder-1.2748474

Eoin Reynolds http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/ian-bailey-s-lawyers-object-to-french-extradition-application-1.3040374