Ian Bailey's final farewell as family scatter ashes at Cork pier ceremony
So it was a fitting end of sorts when the last person to bid him a final farewell was a descendant of the legendary West of Ireland warrior and Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley.
George O'Malley made a 640km round trip journey from his home in Newport, Co. Mayo, to be at the scattering of the ashes ceremony yesterday organised by the late journalist's family. Ian Bailey. Pic: Tom Honan
He was the last one to step forward to help sprinkle some ashes, and George's parting words to his friend of 15 years were: 'May your spirit fly over here forever.'
And with that the remains of the man – who was questioned twice by gardaí in connection with the brutal murder of the French filmmaker and convicted in absentia of killing the mother of one by a French court – flew over a wild honeysuckle hedge to disappear forever from sight.
The former journalist died in January 2024 as he walked from his home in Bantry, Co. Cork, to his car which was parked on a nearby street. He collapsed on the street after suffering a fatal heart attack. Ian Bailey. Pic: RollingNews.ie
Yesterday his sister Kay Reynolds explained his relatives decided to scatter his ashes on Midsummer's Eve so they could also commemorate her brother's arrival in Ireland.
She told a small group of about 40 friends and journalists gathered on a pier outside the pretty West Cork village of Ballydehob: 'Ian loved Ireland with a passion and it is over 30 years ago tomorrow that he arrived in Ireland.
'Except for one situation, he told me the international arrest warrant, which meant he couldn't leave the country, didn't bother him that much as there was nowhere else he'd rather be. Ian Bailey. Pic: RollingNews.ie
'The exception to this was not being able to come and see our failing mother Brenda in England and attend her subsequent funeral. He felt the cruelty of this very, very much.
'There were many blows over the years. However, I think the biggest of all was his split from Jules, which blindsided him and left him hopeless.
'Jules had loyally supported him for over 30 years but I personally believe it [the split] was the real start of his demise.'
Among those who attended yesterday's ceremony were filmmaker Jim Sheridan, documentary maker Donal MacIntyre, and Sam Bungey, who co-produced a podcast about the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier. Others included Ian Bailey's legal team of solicitor Frank Buttimer and barristers Jim Duggan and Tom Creed.
Ms Toscan Du Plantier's battered body was found close to her isolated holiday home in West Cork on December 23, 1996. No one has ever been charged or convicted in Ireland for the death of the 39-year-old filmmaker.
Paying tribute to Sophie and her heartbroken family yesterday Bailey's sister Kay said: 'I would just ask you to think of Sophie and her family for a moment. I hope they get true justice and some form of peace.'
She then added: 'A deep regret, held I'm sure by you here today as well, is that his name wasn't cleared in his lifetime. This is so sad. Ian may you rest in peace.'
Although Bailey was convicted of her murder in his absence by a French court in 2019, he died without ever admitting guilt. He was questioned twice by gardaí about her death but was never put on trial here.
The Irish courts repeatedly refused requests from the French authorities seeking Bailey's extradition.
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Extra.ie
14 minutes ago
- Extra.ie
Jules Thomas speaks out amid DNA breakthrough in Sophie case
Jules Thomas – former partner of the late Ian Bailey – said yesterday she is praying cold-case investigators collecting DNA in a bid to solve the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier make a breakthrough so 'the truth will come out' and clear her ex's name. A review into the brutal killing of the 39-year-old French filmmaker could now be completed within weeks due to enhanced forensic DNA collection techniques. Ms Thomas firmly believes her former lover 'did not commit this appalling murder but he was not believed'. She said: 'That wrecked his life and hastened his death.' Selling art from her stall at the weekly Sunday market in Schull, West Cork, Ms Thomas said she is 'praying for closure. Jules Thomas and Ian Bailey. Pic: Collins Courts 'People still give me lingering looks of suspicion, even some of those I've known for decades locally and visitors who recognise me looking in a ghastly, lingering way sometimes. 'This shadow of suspicion has never really lifted. Some around here remain convinced Ian murdered Sophie, and I was also involved, covering up for him. Now the truth will come out hopefully, and there can be closure at last.' Ms Thomas, who split from Mr Bailey after three decades, added: 'Good luck to those solving the case with that new DNA analysis. It would still be wonderful to have his name cleared posthumously. It would also bring some peace to Sophie's poor family, who were duped and strung along for years in the belief that Ian Bailey was the murderer.' Cork solicitor Frank Buttimer, who represented Mr Bailey for more than 20 years, including during two court cases taken against the State and various newspapers, said his client had voluntarily given his DNA to gardaí. Ian Bailey had voluntarily given his DNA to gardaí. Pic: Collins 'Mr Bailey is deceased and is not around to clear his name,' he said on RTÉ Radio. Asked whether it should be made public if Mr Bailey's DNA is found on items, Mr Buttimer added: 'I am sure in certain quarters there would be a rush to provide such information; there is an ongoing belief in a certain section of the police of a connection between Mr Bailey and the crime which he has denied throughout his life. 'There has always been a rush to put Mr Bailey's name out there in certain quarters as being the one connected with the offence. In Irish law, there's the presumption of innocence; he was presumed innocent by the State of Ireland, he was never prosecuted here, but a completely spurious case was taken against him in France, where he was found guilty, but that was a predictable event.' He said he hoped that if his late client was proven innocent, the French authorities would reflect on the fact he had been 'hounded and pursued for this dreadful crime until the time of his death'. Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Pic: REX/Shutterstock He said this had 'destroyed his life', adding: 'Every avenue should be pursued to get to the truth of this appalling crime. It's a stain on us and a stain on our police and on our system, and if anything can be done even at this late stage I would welcome it.' Former UK forensics detective Bridget Chappuis, who spent decades investigating murders, has had ongoing contact with the family of Ms du Plantier, and also with Ms Thomas and Mr Buttimer. She spoke with Mr Bailey regularly in the last months of his life, and he gave her boxes of documents. The highly respected expert has always believed Mr Bailey was innocent, having looked into all aspects of the case. 'Who's to say there was no cross-contamination of the exhibits, how they were stored and having surety there was no interference with it over the years,' she told 'The Guards can say, 'OK, we have his DNA on the stone, that's it, case closed', but that's worrying, the right of reply to challenge evidence is gone because Ian Bailey is dead.' Their comments come as US forensic experts continue the M-Vac method of recovering DNA material by carrying out tests on the concrete block used to bludgeon the victim to death, which had blood on it. A rock found at the murder scene is being tested, together with the victim's dressing gown, vest, leggings and boots, recovered from the spot where one of Ireland's most notorious murders took place. Ms Toscan du Plantier was found bludgeoned to death in the lane of her isolated West Cork home on the morning of December 23, 1996. Although ten suspects were initially looked at, English journalist Mr Bailey became the prime suspect. However, he was never charged, and, after suffering several heart attacks, died in January last year, protesting his innocence. The M-Vac method of DNA testing has helped solve decades-old murders in the US, leading to the prosecution of perpetrators.
Sunday World
11 hours ago
- Sunday World
Ian Bailey's solicitor welcomes any DNA breakthroughs in Sophie Tuscan du Plantier case
It is hoped that that any evidence obtained will allow Forensic Science Ireland to make comparisons with DNA samples The solicitor of the late Ian Bailey has welcomed any breakthrough in the case of the murder of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier that could come from an advanced method of DNA collection. A garda cold case team is awaiting a report on whether M Vac Systems, a US DNA collection expert which has been used in a number of murder cases in the US, could identify her killer, according to The Irish Times. Exhibits being tested include the flat rock and large cavity block found at the scene and Ms Toscan du Plantier's dressing gown, leggings, vest and boots. It is hoped that that any evidence obtained will allow Forensic Science Ireland to make comparisons with DNA samples from some 10 people identified as suspects during the original Garda investigation. Speaking to RTÉ's This Week, solicitor Frank Buttimer said his former client had 'voluntarily provided DNA to establish his innocence' many years ago. Solicitor Frank Buttimer He described it as 'extraordinary' and 'worrying' that any alleged link or connection could be proposed given the passage of time and the fact the late Mr Bailey is 'not around to defend his name'. Asked whether the information should be made public in the event Mr Bailey's DNA is found at the scene, Mr Buttimer said: 'I'm sure that in certain quarters there would be a rush to provide such information. "Because in my belief, and certainly in my experience, that within certain sections of the police, there is still this ongoing belief that there is some kind of a link or connection between Mr Bailey and the crime that he has denied throughout his life from the time onwards that it happened, but I suspect that that would certainly emerge into the public domain for one reason or another. He said there has 'always been a rush to put Mr Bailey's name out there as being connected with this offence in certain quarters'. Sophie Tuscan Du Plantier. Picture by Patrick Zimmermann/AFP via Getty Images Mr Buttimer said there would be legal implications in the event that a suspect is identified. "Insofar as Ian Bailey is concerned, we have this thing in Irish law called the presumption of innocence. Ian Bailey is presumed innocent by the State of Ireland,' he said. "He was never prosecuted, as we know, a completely spurious case was taken against him in France, where he was found guilty, but that was a predictable event. "Were it to be the case that DNA points the finger in some other quarter, perhaps the French who were so vigorous in their pursuit of him might take time to reflect upon what happened to Ian Bailey during the course of his life." He said Mr Bailey was 'always hounded and pursued over the 27 or 28 years from the time of that dreadful crime to the time of his death, it destroyed his life.' Asked whether the DNA testing could provide a breakthrough in the case, Mr Buttimer said his understanding is that the technology has not been tested in the Irish courts. "The one thing that would be of concern to me would have been the idea that he's just not around to defend himself, if there was any suggestion of any connection between him and the sampling.' He said DNA evidence can be 'challenged' in certain circumstance and it is 'not the be all and end all of criminal investigation and forensic assessment'. "I would absolutely say that every avenue should be pursued of any inquiry that's available to get to the truth of this appalling crime,' he added. "It's a stain on on us, really, and it's a stain on our policing and our system. And if anything can be done, even at this late stage, I would absolutely welcome that.' British journalist Ian Bailey. Photo: Collins Today's News in 90 Seconds - 17 August
Irish Independent
13 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Ian Bailey's solicitor welcomes any breakthroughs from advanced DNA testing in Sophie Tuscan du Plantier case
A garda cold case team is awaiting a report on whether M Vac Systems, a US DNA collection expert which has been used in a number of murder cases in the US, could identify her killer, according to The Irish Times. Exhibits being tested include the flat rock and large cavity block found at the scene and Ms Toscan du Plantier's dressing gown, leggings, vest and boots. It is hoped that that any evidence obtained will allow Forensic Science Ireland to make comparisons with DNA samples from some 10 people identified as suspects during the original Garda investigation. Speaking to RTÉ's This Week, solicitor Frank Buttimer said his former client had 'voluntarily provided DNA to establish his innocence' many years ago. He described it as 'extraordinary' and 'worrying' that any alleged link or connection could be proposed given the passage of time and the fact the late Mr Bailey is 'not around to defend his name'. Asked whether the information should be made public in the event Mr Bailey's DNA is found at the scene, Mr Buttimer said: 'I'm sure that in certain quarters there would be a rush to provide such information. "Because in my belief, and certainly in my experience, that within certain sections of the police, there is still this ongoing belief that there is some kind of a link or connection between Mr Bailey and the crime that he has denied throughout his life from the time onwards that it happened, but I suspect that that would certainly emerge into the public domain for one reason or another. He said there has 'always been a rush to put Mr Bailey's name out there as being connected with this offence in certain quarters'. Mr Buttimer said there would be legal implications in the event that a suspect is identified. "Insofar as Ian Bailey is concerned, we have this thing in Irish law called the presumption of innocence. Ian Bailey is presumed innocent by the State of Ireland,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT "He was never prosecuted, as we know, a completely spurious case was taken against him in France, where he was found guilty, but that was a predictable event. "Were it to be the case that DNA points the finger in some other quarter, perhaps the French who were so vigorous in their pursuit of him might take time to reflect upon what happened to Ian Bailey during the course of his life." He said Mr Bailey was 'always hounded and pursued over the 27 or 28 years from the time of that dreadful crime to the time of his death, it destroyed his life.' Asked whether the DNA testing could provide a breakthrough in the case, Mr Buttimer said his understanding is that the technology has not been tested in the Irish courts. "The one thing that would be of concern to me would have been the idea that he's just not around to defend himself, if there was any suggestion of any connection between him and the sampling.' He said DNA evidence can be 'challenged' in certain circumstance and it is 'not the be all and end all of criminal investigation and forensic assessment'. "I would absolutely say that every avenue should be pursued of any inquiry that's available to get to the truth of this appalling crime,' he added. "It's a stain on on us, really, and it's a stain on our policing and our system. And if anything can be done, even at this late stage, I would absolutely welcome that.'
