We cannot, it seems, escape our sordid, ultra-judgemental past.

Why does An Garda Síochána appear so careless when it comes to retaining records that might reflect badly on the force?

Ian Bailey has said he is praying the truth will come out after he was convicted of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, 39, in West Cork more than 20 years ago

With just two Cork witnesses present from a list of 22, the dissemination of evidence at the Ian Bailey murder trial resembled an attempt to flesh out the personality of a guilty man, in the absence of a direct link to the crime, writes Michael Clifford in Paris.

They do things differently in France.

A European arrest warrant is expected to be issued in the coming months for Ian Bailey following his conviction for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier yesterday in Paris.

Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud spoke in a low, steady voice about his loss.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier told a friend that a “weird” man in west Cork who had an interest in poetry wanted to meet her in the days before her death, the Ian Bailey murder trial heard today.

The failure of the Irish authorities to charge Ian Bailey with murder does not mean that he is innocent of the crime, according to the judge presiding over the trial of Mr Bailey in France.

Ian Bailey will be tried for murder in his absence next week and the trial in a Parisian courthouse will be the latest chapter in a story which has captivated Ireland since Sophie Toscan Du Plantier was found dead in the west Cork village of Schull in 1996.

It is time to bring an end to a crime that is “neither a mystery nor a legend”.

Ian Bailey's solicitor, Frank Buttimer, has said Mr Bailey will not be attending the trial in France for Sophie Du Plantier's murder.

The solicitor for the family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier say they “do not fear” efforts by Ian Bailey to bring a case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and also said they hope to hold the trial against him in France before the end of the year.

Ian Bailey has said he will now go to the European Court of Human Rights after the French supreme court threw out his legal challenge to efforts by French authorities to try him for the voluntary homicide of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Ian Bailey has said he will now go to the European Court of Human Rights after the French Supreme Court threw out his legal challenge to efforts by French authorities to try him for the voluntary homicide of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Decision due on challenge against being charged with voluntary homicide of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The State will not appeal against the High Court's decision last month to refuse the extradition of Ian Bailey to France in relation to the death of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier.

The High Court has heard that Ian Bailey is expected to apply in August for legal costs following the court's refusal last week to order his extradition to France in relation to the death of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier.

It has been claimed that a newly uncovered file shows gardaí knew as far back as 2002 that there were question marks regarding the credibility of Marie Farrell, a key witness in the initial garda probe into the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Ian Bailey will not be extradited to France to face trial for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier after a High Court judge threw out an attempt to have him surrendered to French authorities, describing the action as “an abuse of process”.

The High Court is expected to deliver judgment next month on a second request for Ian Bailey’s extradition to France in relation to the death of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier.

Lawyers for the Minister for Justice have said they are not trying to “usurp” the courts by asking the High Court to refer an Irish Supreme Court decision to Europe.

The Minister for Justice is insulting the Irish courts by seeking to go around a Supreme Court "bar" on Ian Bailey's extradition to France in relation to the death of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier, according to lawyers for the Englishman.

A long-awaited GSOC report into the garda investigation of journalist Ian Bailey is due to be published in the next three weeks.

Gardaí investigating the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder were prepared to “contemplate altering, modifying or suppressing evidence” that hindered their belief that journalist Ian Bailey killed her, the Fennelly Commission final report has concluded.

The Fennelly Commission report into the mass recording of telephone calls in Garda stations for decades has found the practice was not lawful, but no criminal cases were significantly affected by the practice.

A High Court judge “unfairly disparaged” Marie Farrell, a key witness for Ian Bailey, during Mr Bailey’s civil case for damages against the Garda commissioner and State, the Court of Appeal has been told.

Ian Bailey has admitted that his situation is “perilous” after French authorities lodged an application for a fresh European arrest warrant in their latest bid to have him extradited to face a murder indictment linked to the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Ian Bailey’s solicitor has denounced the latest moves by French prosecutors to try his client in relation to the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, claiming all the allegations had already been dismissed in this country.

For some, it’s a milestone anniversary — 20 years on from one of the most notorious unsolved murders in Ireland. But to her family, it’s been an anniversary just like any other.

An expert on constitutional law believes French authorities will find it difficult to succeed in their efforts to extradite Ian Bailey, in part because he is a UK citizen.

December 23, 1996: The body of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is found outside her holiday home near Toormore, near Schull in West Cork by a neighbour. Gardaí launch an investigation into the murder of the French film-maker.

Ian Bailey's solicitor says it is "outrageous that the French are continuing with their persecution of him".

A fresh legal battle looms in the country’s highest courts following reports that French authorities are seeking the extradition of Ian Bailey to face charges of killing Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Ian Bailey’s partner, Jules Thomas, claims she has suffered psychiatric illness and "incalculable" damage due to alleged actions by gardaí and the State concerning the investigation into the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

French police investigating the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier have continued interviews in West Cork, as her son said the family would “maintain the pressure”.

Documentaries about two Cork related murders have been included by TV3 in its autumn schedule.

The State’s bid to prevent Jules Thomas, partner of Ian Bailey, proceeding with her action for damages relating to her alleged wrongful arrest by gardaí investigating the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier will be heard in the High Court in the autumn.

The State’s bid to prevent Jules Thomas, partner of Ian Bailey, proceeding with her action for damages over her alleged wrongful arrest by gardaí investigating the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has again been adjourned at the High Court.

With no appetite for a public inquiry, issues involving gardaí, the State, and Ian Bailey remain unresolved, but co-operation with the French inquiry should stop, writes Michael Clifford

Jules Thomas, the partner of Ian Bailey, is to press ahead with her compensation claim against the State despite Mr Bailey losing his marathon case on Monday.