A year after her unsolved murder, the family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier have reacted angrily to what they see as Irish inaction in the case, and to remarks yesterday by the Minister for Justice, Mr John O'Donoghue, that information regarding the case was "sensitive and confidential".
"They are absolutely shattered by what is happening and by the (Irish) attitude," said Mr Paul Haennig, the lawyer and sole spokesman for the widower, film producer Daniel Toscan du Plantier, and Georges and Marguerite Bouniol, the dead woman's parents.
"They have the impression that their daughter and wife was murdered in Ireland and nobody gives a damn, that the Minister doesn't give a damn," Mr Haennig said.
Mr Haennig used the words of the 19th century French novelist Emile Zola - "J'accuse" - to single out Mr O'Donoghue. "The Irish Minister of Justice is responsible for never giving a reply," he said. "He is the one I accuse."
Ms du Plantier (38), a French film producer, was brutally slain at her holiday home near Schull in west Cork, last Christmas.
Earlier yesterday the Minister said: "This is an extremely sensitive and confidential case and the material which is being sought is highly sensitive and confidential." He said his Department had kept the Department of Foreign Affairs advised on it.
"My understanding of the position is that the Department of Foreign Affairs was in contact with the French embassy. It does have to be remembered that this particular file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions and that this particular investigation is still open," he told RTE radio.
Mr O'Donoghue said it was not a question of anybody being denied information but a question of bringing the case to a successful conclusion. He said no discourtesy had been intended "but the reality of the position is that Irish criminal law does differ from French criminal law". He said "the door was open" in relation to discussing the matter with the French authorities.
Informed of the latest comments by Mr Haennig, a spokesman for the Minister said last night he had nothing to add to his comments on radio.
Senior Garda officers in Co Cork have also dismissed claims by French officials that they have been unco-operative in liaising with their French counterparts concerning the murder.
A senior officer said that for complex legal reasons - particularly because of the difference between the Irish and French judicial systems - it was important for the Irish authorities to get things right.
There were no conditions imaginable, he went on, under which the DPP would hand over a file to another jurisdiction before it had been properly adjudicated upon.
A French investigating magistrate, Mrs Brigitte Pelligrini, was appointed last winter after the family filed proceedings in Paris against Ms Toscan du Plantier's unknown killer. On April 4th an International Rogatory Commission was issued, requesting that Judge Pelligrini and officers from the French Brigade Criminelle be allowed to visit Ireland. "We have heard neither yes or no, nothing", Mr Haennig said.
"All this talk about `confidentiality' and `sensitivity' is political rubbish," he continued. The case had become a diplomatic incident and he intended to seek the intervention of President Chirac.
"I respect Irish law, which says we cannot file a suit in Ireland, and that I have no access to the file. What I'm saying is that there is an extremely serious lack of co-operation. It's discourteous, it's illegal, it's abnormal and humanly wrong. It's a real affront to French justice. They could very well have answered the investigators," Mr Haennig said.