Sophie Toscan Du Plantier murder file will go to Drew Harris 

Sophie Toscan du Plantier's family still believe Ian Bailey, who died last week, killed her in December 1996. 

The garda cold-case file on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier will go all the way to the Garda Commissioner for his assessment before being sent to the DPP, it is understood.

The death of chief suspect Ian Bailey  last Sunday removed the possibility of him ever facing charges for the murder of the French national in Schull, West Cork, in December 1996.

The cold case investigation was established in June 2022 and is being conducted by the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT).

Garda authorities are believed to be very conscious of the huge level of resources and staff hours that have gone into the investigation, but are equally conscious of the wishes of the family and relatives of Ms du Plantier.

Gardaí say the team will complete its investigation and they point out that they also have to exhaust all lines of inquiry, including any “conspiratorial theories”.

It is understood that the investigation file, when completed, will be sent to Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime, Justin Kelly, and then to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, both of whom will review the file.

Unless there is a decision to “pull the plug” on the probe, Mr Harris, once he has reviewed the file and is satisfied that everything possible has been done, will send it back to the SCRT, which will submit the final file to the DPP.

If the file points to Mr Bailey, it is unclear whether the DPP will make an assessment as to whether or not there is sufficient evidence to have brought charges if he was still alive, or whether that decision would be made known.