A FRENCH police team investigating the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier will return to west Cork in the coming months to interview up to 10 more witnesses for the preparation of a file to present before the French criminal justice system.
These witnesses have already made statements to gardaí as part of the Garda investigation into the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier at her holiday home at Dreenane in Toormore near Schull in west Cork in December 1996.
They include some of the 10 who had previously indicated an unwillingness to meet the French team but have since changed their minds, and some whom the French had not previously sought to speak to during their visit to west Cork earlier this month.
Interior security attache at the French embassy in London, Eric Battesti, told The Irish Times that the officers from the Office Centrale Pour La Repression de Violence Aux Personnes were not able to meet everyone that they wished during the previous visit.
“Some people were missing, some others agreed late in the day to meet us – we must first discuss the first mission with the investigating magistrate, Judge Patrick Gachon, but it is quite likely we will send a team back to Ireland to interview more witnesses.”
Mr Battesti said while the French investigation team would be anxious to get back to Ireland before Christmas, it was possible such a visit might not happen until 2012 as it will involve further discussion with the Irish authorities.
Mr Battesti also said test results on some 50 exhibits carried out by scientists from the Laboratoire du Police Technique et Scientifique in Paris will not be known for approximately another two weeks.
Meanwhile, Ms Toscan du Plantier’s parents, Georges and Marguerite Bouniol, have warmly welcomed what they believe is the progress that has been made by the French team during its visit to Cork between October 3rd and October 15th.
“We have arrived at a certain point now where we have to have hope, much more than two years ago – the French police have gone to Ireland and received great co-operation from so many witnesses and that is very positive for us,” said Ms Bouniol.
She was speaking following a commemorative event for her daughter in Paris on Tuesday night organised by the Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier and attended by more than 100 people.
Association president and uncle of Ms Toscan du Plantier, Jean Pierre Gazeau, also expressed confidence that the French investigation would yield dividends in bringing the killer of his niece to justice after so many years.
“The first visit of the French police to Ireland is very welcome even though we believe it should have happened 15 years ago, but it marks a great advance for us in our pursuit of justice for Sophie,” he said.
Reports the association had received were very encouraging with many witnesses confirming and expanding on precise details they had given gardaí, Mr Gazeau added.
He said he was “hopeful”.