Sophie: A Murder in West Cork - Netflix.

Sophie only became wealthy after her marriage to Daniel.

She doesn't seem to have gained any fame or money from her own work.

There were reports of the unopened recovered wine bottle being re-examined. I wonder if this may be a source of DNA?

Unlikely that anyone could have left it there. It was found in scrub some distance from the house, perhaps thrown from the road, was expensive £100 back in 1996! It also was a brand not on sale in Ireland but perhaps in France. It could easily have been used in the struggle and wiped afterwards. Who would hide a bottle as a prank? Might never have turned up at all..

Fairly common to have stuff "carried" from holiday homes by locals.( there may have been a few spare door keys around the locality)

It could have been taken before or after the murder. "It had been there for some time" according to Gardai.

It materialised 3 months after the murder, about 3/4 mile away, found by the housekeeper's son on their own land.

3 months into the investigation, pressure was mounting on the Gardai, so they were ramping up the enquiries around the locality.

I've always felt this wine bottle thing was a deflection; " nothing to do with us, go looking in France for your murderer" and leave us alone.

My use of the word "carried" must have confused you, it's sometimes used instead of stolen or robbed.

I think it's unlikely that the bottle of wine had anything to do with the murder or was placed there at the night of the murder or around that time.

Sophie either met her killer during the night time, or in the early morning hours. At both times it would certainly not have been a welcomed social call with a bottle of wine, or luring Sophie into some form of sexual encounter, helped by a friendly conversation and a bottle of wine. Even though the motive could have been sexually motivated, I don't think the killer wanted sex or made any other sexual advances towards Sophie at the time of the murder as her clothes were not torn off. Also the pathologist ruled out rape or any sexual activity as far as I know.

I would even put in doubt that the bottle was found, where it was said to be found. A lot of things about the location of the bottle is probably hearsay and can't even be proven, not back then and even less, now.

If the wine was really not available in Ireland, and was most likely purchased in France, it is worth noting that it is a peculiarity of French supermarkets to carry only local wines. The winery could have given a clue, but I don't think it could ever have been evidence. And yes, the family or those who would have known Sophie better could have been asked regarding her preferred wines.

Ok, near 100 Euro and may be available in some Duty Free. Doesn't really affect the point.

Would this cold case review have been have been ordered were it not for the publicity surrounding the Netflix and Sheridan documentaries or solely on the basis of Ian Bailey requesting one? I think not .Marie Farrell,I presume, is being paid for her participation in this ongoing filming so her motivation may be avarice rather than a desire to finally uncover the truth. Doubts about her character and bona fides have long since been established. Sheridan must be delighted with himself. All this oxygen is helping to reignite the dying embers of his film career.

Well, he would say that, wouldn't he?