Last man to speak with murdered Sophie du Toscan Plantier dies aged 88

Sean Ryan

The last man to speak with Sophie Toscan du Plantier has died.

Publican Billy O’Sullivan, 88, spoke to the French artist the night before she was killed in 1996, when she visited his pub O’Sullivan’s in Crookhaven in West Cork.

The 39-year-old French woman was killed outside her holiday home near Toormore, Goleen, Co Cork on the night of 23 December 1996.

Despite countless investigations, the identity of her murderer was never revealed.

Mr O’Sullivan later shared his experience of talking to Ms du Plantier in the high-profile Netflix documentary series Sophie: A Murder in West Cork.

At the time, he told the programme she usually ordered a pot of tea and chatted with him and his wife, Angela.

"We knew her as well as anyone around here," said Mr O'Sullivan. "She was gentle and friendly, a very private person."

His family shared the news of his death on Monday morning, saying: "He had a very full and happy life. We will celebrate it as we try and understand our lives without him."

He is survived by his son Dermot and extended family.

A requiem mass will be held on Wednesday, December 17th at 12 noon in the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea and St. Patrick, Goleen.

This will be followed by a cremation service in the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy at 4pm.