The first person to come across the body of murdered French-film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier outside her holiday home in Toormore in Goleeen almost 30 years ago has died.

Shirley Foster, who was in her early 90s,  previously lived in Toormore with her late partner Alfie Lyons and was a close neighbour of Sophie.

She passed away peacefully at her home in Ballydehob on Wednesday and will be sadly missed by her daugther Gilly, sisters Jane and Pam.

Shirley was the first person to come across Sophie's body on the morning of December 23rd 1996 when she was driving from her home and spotted the 39-year-old film producer's body by the entrance to the French woman's holiday home.

She immediately reported it to gardaí and later made statements to them and was a key witness into Sophie's murder investigation. She also gave evidence in court during Ian Bailey's libel trial against several newspapers in 2003.

The unsolved murder of Du Plantier led to the Garda Serious Crime Review Team in 2021 to carrying out a cold case review of all aspects of the case.

The former art teacher, who was originally from the UK. moved to Schull following the death of Alfie in 2021 and later moved to Ballydehob.

Her cremation will take place in the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy on Saturday while a gathering of her friends and family to celebrate her life will take place later that evening in Levis' Bar in Ballydehob from 7pm to 9pm.