Sophie was pregnant when she was murdered
The announcement to her husband, Daniel, in Paris, may have been made from her West Cork retreat on the weekend she was killed.
The revelation Sophie was expecting was later conveyed by her husband to a French-based journalist. However, film-maker Mr Toscan du Plantier died last year without establishing proof of Sophie’s condition.
An autopsy, carried out by former state pathologist Dr John Harbison after Sophie’s Christmastime murder in 1996, was not divulged to her family despite repeated requests by her late husband. Sophie and Daniel, who had children from previous marriages, expressed a desire for a child.
In his book, Death in December, in which Michael Sheridan tells the story of Sophie’s life and death, the 38-year-old murder victim was reportedly obsessed about having a child. Her husband told the author Sophie’s preference was for a baby girl who would be named Therese.
A Paris-based journalist has claimed Daniel Toscan du Plantier revealed to him that Sophie was pregnant.
“She was in the early stages of pregnancy and they had talked about it in their last ever phone call,” the British-born writer said.
Asking not to be identified, he said the disclosure came on a film set in Le Mans in late 1997. “I remember it well, it was a buffet lunch on the set and Daniel approached.
"He knew I had written on the French reaction to the murder. Down the years, we had met regularly. He gave me a very definite impression he knew Sophie had been pregnant.
"He talked continuously about her for about three-quarters of an hour and I hardly got a word in. I’m also sure I wasn’t the only person he talked to about the likelihood of Sophie expecting a baby. At that time, he was very annoyed about the progress of the police investigation. He also told me he was quite sure who the killer was.”
Sophie’s badly battered body was discovered by a neighbour on a laneway leading to her retreat near Schull. As no one has been charged with the killing, the autopsy report is not likely to be made public while the garda file remains open.
Meanwhile, Ian Bailey will today learn whether or not he has been successful in the libel action he mounted against seven newspapers last month.
He is suing Independent Star Ltd, Irish Mirror Group Ltd, Independent Newspapers Ltd, Independent Newspapers UK Ltd, Times Newspapers Ltd, Newsgroup Newspapers Ltd and Telegraph Group Ltd.
In each action the maximum award of €38,000 is claimed in relation to articles Mr Bailey says unfairly linked him the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier.
The newspapers argue they did not misrepresent Mr Bailey, who was arrested twice in connection with the crime. He was never charged and has always maintained his innocence.
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