Father of murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier dies in Paris aged 98
Georges Du Plantier, The Film In Producer The Age A At Bouniol, Sophie 98 Father Of Hospital Paris Has French Toscan Of Died Murdered
Georges Bouniol, the father of murdered French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, has died in a Paris hospital at the age of 98.
He spent nearly three decades tirelessly campaigning to bring his daughter’s killer to justice.
Mr Bouniol, who lived in Paris with his wife Marguerite, had been critically ill over the Christmas period. He passed away on Monday with family members by his side.
For many years, Georges and his wife Marguerite traveled to West Cork at Christmas with their son Bertrand and Sophie’s son, Pierre-Louis, to attend an anniversary Mass in memory of their daughter.
His death comes shortly after the 28th anniversary of Ms du Plantier’s murder.
The 39-year-old was found battered to death outside her holiday home in Toormore, Schull, on December 23, 1996.
Two years ago, Ms du Plantier's uncle, Jean-Pierre Gazeau, said that it was her parents' final wish to see a conviction in the case, emphasizing that the family had waited far too long for justice.
"They are so heartbroken that they still cannot move on with their lives. They’ve been waiting so long for justice and know they will not be around forever.
"It's their wish that they will see a successful end to this investigation so they can live the rest of their lives in peace," he said.
Gardaí re-investigating the case are examining extensive writings by English journalist Ian Bailey to determine if any evidence links him to Ms du Plantier's killing.
Mr Bailey, who died suddenly in January, was questioned twice by gardaí in connection with the murder but was never charged in Ireland.
A freelance journalist based in West Cork, he became a suspect while reporting on the case.
The 66-year-old was convicted of the murder in 1996 of Ms du Plantier near her remote home in Schull, West Cork, in a 2019 trial in France.
Mr Bailey did not attend the trial and had no legal representation at it and described it at the time as a farce.
The Paris court imposed a 25-year-sentence, but his extradition to France was blocked by the Irish High Court in October 2020.
In January of this year Mr Gazeau, president of the Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier (ASSOPH), urged gardaí to continue their murder investigation despite Mr Bailey's death and saying he was “confident” they will be able to successfully close the case.
He said Mr Bailey had spent his life “provoking and taunting the police".
“Throughout these years, Ian Bailey refused to answer the questions of French investigators, entangling himself in lies and contradictions.
“Provoking and taunting the police, the judiciary, and the media, Ian Bailey always avoided telling the truth about this murder, of which, beyond any reasonable doubt, he knew every detail.”
He claimed the Irish courts never wanted to charge him or extradite him to France and alleged this was “in disregard” of EU commitments based on mutual trust between States, which Ireland signed.
Mr Gazeau said that with his death, Sophie’s family and the association will never be able to obtain a confession from Mr Bailey.
Mr Bailey, who was twice arrested but never charged, always denied he murdered Ms du Plantier.