Sky Studios will be showing the new five-part documentary series from six-time Oscar nominee Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In The Name of the Father) which details the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork in 1996.
Murder at the Cottage: The Search For Justice For Sophie will feature access to those closest to the case, including Sophie’s family and key suspect Ian Bailey.
In 1996, two days before Christmas, Sophie, the wife of French filmmaker Daniel Toscan du Plantier, was brutally murdered at her holiday cottage in Schull, West Cork.
24 years later, the case remains a mystery with the key suspect, English journalist Ian Bailey – the first reporter on the scene – quickly arrested by local police following eye-witness reports, yet was never found guilty in Ireland, owing to a lack of reliable evidence.
Having successfully fought repeated extradition requests from the French authorities, Bailey still resides in West Cork and maintains his innocence to this day.
Sheridan will be directing, narrating and appearing on-screen during the documentary.
In terms of an official synopsis, Sky state that the series "pieces together original evidence, never-before-seen footage and interviews with those closest to the case as Sheridan tries to make sense of what happened that night; all set against the rural landscapes and wilderness of his home country.
The series is expected to air on Sky Crime in the UK & Ireland next year.
Speaking about the documentary, Jim Sheridan said: “This is a story that has fascinated me for over two decades. It is a murder that carries implications for the meaning of justice in Ireland, in France and in the UK. It is a murder that calls into question the meaning of Europe, as the convicted man in France is free in Ireland.
"It is a story that calls into question the meaning and process of the police and the legal system. It is a story that shines a light on domestic violence. It is a story about primal fear. About a devil in the hills. About the existence of evil among us. I would like to thank all those who have contributed to this series, but in particular to Sophie’s family who are still searching for justice.”
