"Nevertheless we have still not made a breakthrough as such but we are getting there."

After issuing a new appeal regarding the Sophie Toscon du Plantier case, the Gardaí have said that they have received "new information" that has proven helpful. Ms Toscan du Plantier was found dead at a laneway near her holiday home in Schull, Co. Cork on 23 December, 1996. She had been beaten to death. Prior to Christmas, the Gardaí urged those who may have seen Sophie when she arrived into Ireland, and on her journey to Cork to get in touch. Ms Toscan du Plantier flew into Dublin Airport on 20 December 1996 and she got a connecting flight to Cork Airport, landing at 2:30 pm. She then hired a Ford Fiesta (registration 96-C-14459) and drove to the Mizen Peninsula. At a press conference, Superintendent Joe Moore of Bantry Garda Station said: "I believe that there are still persons who have information on Sophie’s murder and who haven’t yet spoken to Gardaí – or may have spoken to Gardaí but were not in a position to tell everything that they know – I am appealing to those persons, 26 years later, to please come forward and speak to the investigation team." Now, according to the Irish Mirror, that appeal has brought about some progress in the case. A Garda source told the paper: "We received a lot of new information which is extremely helpful and is now being checked out. "Nevertheless we have still not made a breakthrough as such but we are getting there." The source added that they will not be leaving any stone "unturned" in the investigation. The murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has become the subject of many true crime documentaries. The popular podcast West Cork reignited interest in the case when it was released in 2018, while in 2021, both Sky and Netflix produced two documentary series on the subject.

Related links:

• Gardaí issue new appeal in Sophie Toscan du Plantier case
• Memorial concert planned for Sophie Toscan du Plantier