Timeline of two decades since Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder

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.

February 10, 1997: Ian Bailey, an English journalist who moved to West Cork in 1991, is arrested at his home near Schull in connection with Ms du Plantier’s murder. His partner, Jules Thomas, is also arrested for questioning and both are later released without charge. A court will later hear that by the time of Mr Bailey’s arrest, schoolboy Malachi Reid had made a statement to gardaí claiming that when Mr Bailey had been giving him a lift home he had said he had killed Ms du Plantier.

September 29, 1997: A file is sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.