THE FAMILY AND friends of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the French woman who was murdered in Cork 17 years ago, still believe they will get justice, a group representing them has said.

The woman was brutally murdered outside her holiday home in Schull, Co Cork, in December 1996. Her family have been critical of the garda investigation that was conducted and have been pursuing justice through the French legal system over the last few years.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Vice President of the Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, Jean-Antoine Bloc, said her parents and her son will get justice for her death, “at least from the French side”.

Allegations arose recently that phonecalls relating to the woman’s murder investigation were recorded after it was revealed that calls at a number of stations across the country have been recorded for years.

Documents showing this came to light as a result of a civil action being taken against the state by journalist Ian Bailey and his partner Jules Thomas over their wrongful arrest for the murder.

Despite the lack of progress in the investigation in Ireland, the French woman’s family are confident a trial will go ahead.

“The file for the enquiring judge, a French judge, is almost complete, I should say,” Bloc said this morning. “We do not know what conclusion he will draw from his file but we’re expecting a trial in absentia against a suspect”.

Read: Legal advice sought on French request for further assistance with du Plantier case>

Read: Du Plantier investigators sourced equipment and recorded conversations ‘on purpose’>