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Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
Investigation
Legal advice sought on French request for further assistance with du Plantier case
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter told the Dáil of the development last night.
REVELATIONS THAT CALLS were taped at a number of garda stations has prompted the State to seek legal advice on a request from French police investigating the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier for ”further assistance”.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter revealed last night that “legal advice has been sought” on the issue.
He added that assistance had been provided previously “on an ongoing basis in the light of Ireland’s legal obligations, reflected in various international co-operation instruments and domestic legislation”.
“The French authorities were informed in early April, including through correspondence between me and my French counterpart, that material – the tapes to which the Deputy referred – had emerged in the context of a related civil case.”
Shatter said that any new evidence that comes to light in relation to the “brutal and tragic killing of Ms du Plantier” will pursued fully.
He was responding to questions from Sinn Féin TD Pádraigh MacLouchlainn, who asked action the Minister had taken in relation to the Supreme court refusal to extradite Ian Bailey to France in relation to the investigation.
Shatter said his handling of the case so far had been “appropriate and correct in the context of the legal position”.
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