Ian Bailey has been served with a murder indictment by a French court.

Mr Bailey is the chief suspect for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in December 1996.

The French authorities are seeking to put Mr Bailey on trial in France.

He was served with the papers at his west Cork home this week.

Mr Bailey was twice arrested by gardaí and questioned about the murder - but has always denied involvement.

No one has ever been charged in Ireland in connection with her death.

But under French law the trial can go ahead in his absence.

The Supreme Court has previously refused his extradition to France.

Mr Bailey's solicitor, Frank Buttimer, says gardaí served his client with documentation which was put together by them at the request of the Department of Justice.

He says this came after a request made to the department by French authorities.

"This unfortunate event has been in Mr Bailey's life 20 years, it's a daily feature of his existence.

"He can't escape it," Mr Buttimer says.

"He remains a prisoner in Ireland because if he steps foot outside of Ireland the European arrest warrant provisions will sort of kick in, and that will possibly render them now able to arrest him in any other jurisdiction which he visits.

"So therefore he has to remain in this country because it's the only secure location in which he can be", he added.