A REVIEW of the Garda handling of the investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has been made available to a French magistrate investigating the killing of the French film producer in west Cork 12 years ago.
The review by Assistant Commissioner Ray McAndrew was sent to the DPP who recommended in July this year that there be no prosecution on foot of the examination of how gardaí handled the investigation into Ms Toscan du Plantier's killing.
The internal Garda review had been ordered by the then Garda commissioner Noel Conroy in late 2005 after solicitor Frank Buttimer wrote expressing concern that his client, Ian Bailey, had been arrested on foot of a statement made by Schull shopkeeper Marie Farrell which she later withdrew.
In the statement, Ms Farrell said she had seen Mr Bailey on a bridge over a mile from Ms Toscan du Plantier's home on the night she was murdered. In October 2005 she said the statement was false and she had been coerced into making it by gardaí.
The body of Ms Toscan du Plantier was found with severe head injuries near a gate and laneway leading to her holiday home at Toormore near Schull on the morning of December 23rd, 1996.
News that the McAndrew review has been handed over to the French authorities along with the original Garda file into the killing comes as Ms Toscan du Plantier's family prepare to gather for an all-night vigil at her holiday home tonight.
Ms Toscan du Plantier's uncle, Jean Pierre Gazeau, president of the Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, said 25 relatives and friends of his niece were travelling from France for the vigil.
"My sister Marguerite has also sent out invites to many locals in Goleen and Schull so we expect some of them to attend also.
"It's an all-night long vigil and we will light candles all around the spot where Sophie's body was found," he said.
"Some people may only come for an hour, others may stay with us until dawn breaks. The purpose of the vigil is to show our determination to get justice for Sophie and to bear witness to the 12 years of injustice suffered by her and her family," he explained.
Mr Gazeau will this morning hold a press conference in Cork city where he will outline the group's campaign.
