Jim Sheridan's new Toscan du Plantier documentary ‘sets itself apart completely’

Jim Sheridan is to direct, produce and appear in the documentary. Picture: Sky studios

Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan's five-part documentary series examining the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is due for release next year in January.

Mr Sheridan has been working on the project for 10 years which will feature Du Plantier's family and include English journalist Ian Bailey, the man who has been at the centre of the investigation.

In 1996, the French film-maker Ms Toscan du Plantier was found beaten to death outside her holiday home in Schull, West Cork. 

Mr Bailey has always denied involvement with her death but was arrested after eye-witness reports. 

He was never charged with the murder that shocked the quiet, West Cork town and 24 years later, the case remains a mystery.

Last month, the Irish High Court declined to extradite Mr Bailey to France after a Paris court found him guilty in abstentia for the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. 

Previously, there were two attempts to extradite Mr Bailey. In 2012, the High Court agreed to hand over the English journalist but this was later overturned by the Supreme Court.

Jim Sheridan at Three Castle Head in Co Cork. Picture: Sky Studios

The series will chart the du Plantier’s family’s search for justice for nearly 25 years. The director of My Left Foot will narrate and make appearances in the documentary as he unravels the story. 

“This is a story that has fascinated me for over two decades. It is a murder that carries implications for the meaning of justice in Ireland, in France and in the UK. It is a murder that calls into question the meaning of Europe, as the convicted man in France is free in Ireland," said Mr Sheridan.  

"It is a story that calls into question the meaning and process of the police and the legal system. It is a story that shines a light on domestic violence. It is a story about primal fear. 

About a devil in the hills. About the existence of evil among us.

"I would like to thank all those who have contributed to this series, but in particular to Sophie’s family who are still searching for justice.”

Made for Sky studios and produced by Hell’s Kitchen, the prospective release of Murder at the Cottage: The search for justice for Sophie in Januar builds on heightened public interest.

Naoimh Reilly, a Cork-based director with Jim Sheridan’s production said their project “sets itself apart completely from everything, this is completely different from anything that’s been done before”.

“You’re looking into far greater detail into things that weren’t necessarily even in the news. 

So absolutely brand new stuff that nobody has heard before. 

The documentary follows the recent attempts to extradite Mr Bailey to France as well as covering proceedings in the French courts where Mr Bailey was found guilty in abstentia.

The announcement follows Netflix's confirmation of its own three-part documentary series about the West Cork murder.

The two projects drew significant attention in September with a reported “face-off” taking place between directors from both series in a market place during filming in Schul.

Ms Reilly said she does not know anything about Netflix’s documentary but said: “I do know they do not have the access that we have had.” 

 Ms Reilly said the access to witnesses and interviews conducted by Jim Sheridan’s documentary makes the series unique including to Mr Bailey who has agreed to cooperate only with their production.

We have all the key witnesses spoken to us about it as well and they’ve given us interviews and also the guards, we’ve done quite a lot of interviews with the guards as well.

“We’ve excellent access,” said Ms Reilly, “we have all the key people and everybody involved, we have access to and interviewed.

“It’s not a rehash of interviews that have been done before, it's not an archive piece, it’s not a 'reeling in the years' piece.'

“It’s new content and it's very interesting and exciting content as well.” With public interest mounting, Ms Reilly is excited for the documentary’s reception but aware that closure for the Toscan du Plantier is the most important factor.

“All of sudden it's almost coming to ahead. I won’t say a finale because obviously the murderer hasn't been found yet and that’s really what people would prefer to find some closure to the family.

“But it’s like the perfect storm, there’s huge interest at the moment.”