Film director Jim Sheridan recently stated that he believes the late Ian Bailey was 'probably 100% innocent' of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork. The French film producer's body was found near her holiday home in Toormore on the outskirts of Schull in West Cork in 2006.

During an interview with Newstalk Breakfast, Sheridan expressed his belief that the case represents a 'double injustice.' He emphasized that Sophie's murderer has never been found, and Bailey, who passed away in 2024, was unfairly vilified despite a lack of evidence linking him to the crime.

Sheridan's latest drama, 'Re Creation,' premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The film explores the hypothetical scenario of the unsolved murder going before a jury in Ireland, featuring actors like Colm Meaney, Aidan Gilles, and Vicky Krieps.

Ian Bailey, who was the prime suspect in the case, was twice detained by authorities for questioning but was never formally charged in Ireland. In 2015, he was convicted in absentia in France and sentenced to 25 years in prison, a decision that Sheridan described as a 'farce.'

While acknowledging Bailey's history of violence with his former partner, Jules Thomas, Sheridan stressed that there was no conclusive evidence linking him to Sophie's murder. He also highlighted the suffering experienced by both families involved in the case.

Alain Spilliaert, a lawyer for Toscan du Plantier's family, expressed concerns about the film's content, suggesting that it may not be appropriate to release a fictionalized account of the case during an ongoing criminal investigation.

Georges Bouniol, Sophie's father, passed away in December 2023, just days after the 28th anniversary of her murder. He spent nearly three decades seeking justice for his daughter and had hoped to see a conviction in the case before his death.