A fresh legal battle looms in the country’s highest courts following reports that French authorities are seeking the extradition of Ian Bailey to face charges of killing Sophie Toscan du Plantier.
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A British journalist has been ordered to stand trial in France for the murder of a film producer in the Republic of Ireland nearly 20 years ago.
Mr Bailey was twice arrested by gardaí and questioned about the murder but has always denied involvement.
Under French law, authorities can investigate the suspicious death of a citizen overseas.
The French authorities are putting their alleged voluntary homicide case together against Bailey after an investigation into her death.
A French investigating magistrate has given the order to start a criminal case at the Court of Assizes in Paris on the ground of “voluntary homicide” against Mr Bailey.
However, the Irish Examiner understands that the warrant is still in the process of being formally submitted from France. The last time it was refused on the basis that there was no criminal charge in place at that time.
The law dates back to Napoleonic times and appears under Article 113.7 of the Penal Code of France.
Alain Spilliaert, who represents Georges and Marguerite Bouniol and campaign group the Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, says that a European arrest warrant has been issued by French authorities.
Ms du Plantier’s son, Pierre Louis Baudey, is now on holidays in the Toormore Cottage his mother described as her dream home.
He said they had been “hoping” for good news and he said it is a “victory” for their family that the French justice system believes there is a case for Bailey to answer.
She recently took over the French investigation into Ms Toscan du Plantier’s murder.
“For the family it’s very important that a trial takes place”, he said.
The lawyer said if no appeal is made the earliest a trial could take place is at least six months.
Mr Bailey will again vigorously contest any French attempt to extradite him over the du Plantier murder.
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“The Irish prosecutorial authorities have ruled there is no evidence in which (Mr Bailey) can be tried in this jurisdiction and France is going to use, it seems, evidence that the previous Director of Public Prosecutions described as flawed and prejudiced to put him on trial”, he said.
