Will investigations continue despite Ian Bailey's death?

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Ian Bailey, who died on Sunday, was arrested during the investigation into Sophie Toscan Du Plantier's death but was never charged. Photograph: Collins.
Ian Bailey, who died on Sunday, was arrested during the investigation into Sophie Toscan Du Plantier's death but was never charged. Photograph: Collins.

On Sunday, Ian Bailey, the prime suspect in the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, died in West Cork from a suspected heart attack.

Despite decades of accusations and legal battles, Bailey maintained his innocence and was never charged for the murder of the French filmmaker.

But the family of Toscan du Plantier have always believed he did it - and never stopped pushing for the State to prosecute him.

Gardaí now say a cold case review of the investigation into the death of Toscan du Plantier will continue. But why are the authorities continuing this expensive and time-consuming investigation now that the prime suspect is dead?

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Could new evidence and modern technology finally help crack this case? And what resolution, if any, is possible?

Sorcha Pollak speaks with Irish Times Southern Correspondent Barry Roche, who has been covering the case since the late 1990s.

Produced by Declan Conlon and Suzanne Brennan.

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak is an Irish Times reporter specialising in immigration issues and cohost of the In the News podcast