‘Sheridan's arguments are very, very wrong,' says Sophie Toscan du Plantier family in shock new claims as film premieres
THE family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier have said an Irish filmmaker's 'arguments' about her murder are 'totally wrong' and 'complete fantasy'.
They also fear a new movie inspired by the
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Ian Bailey was arrested over Sophie's murder at her holiday home
Credit: AFP
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Sophie was murdered on December 23, 1996, near Schull in Co Cork
Credit: PA
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Jim Sheridan's new film, Re-Creation, premiered in New York earlier this month
Credit: Getty
Jim Sheridan's new film, Re-Creation, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York earlier this month.
He said that it was not intended to cause any distress to the Toscan du Plantier family, adding: 'I'm not trying to upset them, I'm not trying to do anything to them.'
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But he says there's not a 'shred of evidence' against
The 39-year-old had suffered brutal injuries in a gruesome killing that shocked both Ireland and France.
The
A French court convicted Bailey in absentia in 2019, but he was never extradited over there after the High
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Sophie's uncle Jean-Pierre Gazeau insists he does not want to react to everything Sheridan says.
But in an interview with The Irish Sun, Jean-Pierre said on one occasion he spoke to Sheridan, who told him about a 'scenario' and he insisted it was 'complete fantasy.'
He explained that the problem with Sheridan's movie is that it will be watched by many people not aware of the evidence against Bailey.
Jean-Pierre told us: 'Many people are going to listen to him, agree with him, but without any deep knowledge of the investigation file.
'A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE'
'There was a very high level of circumstantial evidence against Bailey. There is no direct proof like DNA, but there is a lot of circumstantial evidence.
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'I think, to some extent, we cannot at all agree with the current behaviour of Jim Sheridan.'
Two investigations remain ongoing in Ireland, one by a local team of
Jean-Pierre went on: 'Jim Sheridan has his own opinion. Of course, we completely disagree. We disagree about the fact he's made a movie while there are still investigations continuing in Ireland.
'There are two teams, you know, and they are really doing a lot of work. So I think the most reasonable attitude would be to wait.
'We heard arguments given by Sheridan many times, which are wrong, totally wrong.'
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Jean-Pierre pointed towards the interviewing of Sophie's estranged husband Daniel and also that a witness in the case, Marie Farrell, had not been called over for the French proceedings.
Ms Farrell claimed that she saw Bailey at Kealfadda Bridge near the murder scene on the night in question. But she later retracted statements given to gardai.
'IT'S NOT TRUE'
Jean-Pierre added: 'When Jim Sheridan says that Daniel Toscan du Plantier was never interviewed by the Gardai, it's not true.
'He went to Ireland to be interviewed by the Gardai in 1998, so it's completely wrong.
'Another example is when he says that during the French trial, the French justice had to invite Marie Farrell to give her statement. It was the role of the defence to invite her as a witness. So it's completely wrong.'
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Jean-Pierre explained that, to 'some extent', the question of who killed Sophie was solved in 2019 at the French trial.
But he insists it was the 'responsibility' of Bailey himself and Irish authorities to extradite him to defend himself in fresh proceedings.
He said: 'If Bailey had been expelled to come to France, he would have had the right of a new trial with a full defence.'
Sheridan said the new movie, which stars Aidan Gillen and Colm Meaney, will reveal new info about Sophie's death.
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Sophie's uncle Jean-Pierre Gazeau insists he does not want to react to everything Sheridan says
Credit: PA
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Sheridan said the new movie, which stars Aidan Gillen and Colm Meaney, will reveal new info about Sophie's death
Credit: PR Handout image
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Sophie was murdered at the house in 1996
Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
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