Murder suspect Ian Bailey to have his remains scattered in Cork later this month
Bailey became the chief suspect in the murder of 39-year-old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork in 1996
Ian Bailey was the chief suspect in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier
Murder suspect Ian Bailey's ashes will be scattered in west Cork later this month at a ceremony in which his film director pal Jim Sheridan is one of the invitees.
But insiders reveal that of the 40 invites so far sent out none have been issued to his former partner Jules Thomas.
The discreet service will be held close to where Bailey lived near Schull. It comes nearly a year-and-a-half after the Englishman was cremated in a private ceremony in Cork.
No one bar crematorium and funeral director staff in attendance in January last year.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered in Ireland in 1996
Bailey became the chief suspect in the murder of 39-year-old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork in 1996.
He collapsed of a heart attack in Bantry on January 21 last year aged 66.
He had twice suffered two prior heart attacks and autopsy was conducted, with the cause of death recorded as natural causes.
Dubliner actor Colm Meaney is set to play Bailey in Jim Sheridan's upcoming movie Re-Creation about the unsolved murder.
Oscar-nominated Sheridan previously oversaw a documentary series on Sky about the killing, Murder at at The Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie.
The French woman's badly beaten body was found by neighbours in a laneway beside her holiday home in Schull on December 23, 1996. Nobody has ever been charged in Ireland with her death.
Bailey who was once the chief suspect in the murder and was arrested twice for questioning, however, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided there was insufficient evidence to charge him.
He was a former journalist who lived two miles away from du Plantier's holiday home in the town. He was one of the first reporters to arrive at the scene following her murder.
Bailey was convicted in absentia of the murder by a French court in 2020, which put a 25-year sentence on him. He stringently denied any involvement in du Plantier's murder and, due to not present being in court for the French proceedings, he could not appeal the verdict.
However, the High Court in Ireland ruled that he should not be extradited to France to face that jail term.
Jim Sheridan
Sheridan, who met Bailey several times and plays a juror in the upcoming film, previously said: 'To say Ian Bailey died of natural causes is the Irish phrase for 27 years of torture.
'He died of a bad heart, brought on by excessive drinking and smoking, but there was no doubt he had post-traumatic stress from all of this.'
English woman Jules Thomas was in a tempestuous relationship with Bailey for over 30 years, before kicking him out.
The Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier vowed to continue their campaign for justice despite Bailey's death.
Ian Bailey was the chief suspect in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier
Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
'Despite this trial and France's repeated requests for his extradition, Ian Bailey remained free, never facing charges from the Irish justice system,' it said.
'Throughout these years, Ian Bailey refused to answer the questions of French investigators, entangling himself in lies and contradictions. Provoking and taunting the police, the judiciary, and the media, Ian Bailey always avoided telling the truth about this murder, of which, beyond any reasonable doubt, he knew every detail.
'Irish judicial authorities never wanted to charge him or extradite him to France, in disregard of European commitments based on the principle of mutual trust between states, which Ireland signed and ratified.'
'With Bailey's death, Sophie's family and our association will never be able to obtain a confession from Ian Bailey.
'We continue our efforts for truth and justice. An investigation is underway in Ireland, and we are confident that the discovery of new elements, the hearing of new witnesses, and the revelation of possible complicity will enable Irish police to close the case, 27 years after the murder.'
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Bailey became the chief suspect in the murder of 39-year-old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork in 1996 Ian Bailey was the chief suspect in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier Murder suspect Ian Bailey's ashes will be scattered in west Cork later this month at a ceremony in which his film director pal Jim Sheridan is one of the invitees. But insiders reveal that of the 40 invites so far sent out none have been issued to his former partner Jules Thomas. The discreet service will be held close to where Bailey lived near Schull. It comes nearly a year-and-a-half after the Englishman was cremated in a private ceremony in Cork. No one bar crematorium and funeral director staff in attendance in January last year. Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered in Ireland in 1996 Bailey became the chief suspect in the murder of 39-year-old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork in 1996. He collapsed of a heart attack in Bantry on January 21 last year aged 66. He had twice suffered two prior heart attacks and autopsy was conducted, with the cause of death recorded as natural causes. Dubliner actor Colm Meaney is set to play Bailey in Jim Sheridan's upcoming movie Re-Creation about the unsolved murder. Oscar-nominated Sheridan previously oversaw a documentary series on Sky about the killing, Murder at at The Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie. The French woman's badly beaten body was found by neighbours in a laneway beside her holiday home in Schull on December 23, 1996. Nobody has ever been charged in Ireland with her death. Bailey who was once the chief suspect in the murder and was arrested twice for questioning, however, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided there was insufficient evidence to charge him. He was a former journalist who lived two miles away from du Plantier's holiday home in the town. He was one of the first reporters to arrive at the scene following her murder. Bailey was convicted in absentia of the murder by a French court in 2020, which put a 25-year sentence on him. He stringently denied any involvement in du Plantier's murder and, due to not present being in court for the French proceedings, he could not appeal the verdict. However, the High Court in Ireland ruled that he should not be extradited to France to face that jail term. Jim Sheridan Sheridan, who met Bailey several times and plays a juror in the upcoming film, previously said: 'To say Ian Bailey died of natural causes is the Irish phrase for 27 years of torture. 'He died of a bad heart, brought on by excessive drinking and smoking, but there was no doubt he had post-traumatic stress from all of this.' English woman Jules Thomas was in a tempestuous relationship with Bailey for over 30 years, before kicking him out. The Association for the Truth about the Murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier vowed to continue their campaign for justice despite Bailey's death. Ian Bailey was the chief suspect in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025 'Despite this trial and France's repeated requests for his extradition, Ian Bailey remained free, never facing charges from the Irish justice system,' it said. 'Throughout these years, Ian Bailey refused to answer the questions of French investigators, entangling himself in lies and contradictions. Provoking and taunting the police, the judiciary, and the media, Ian Bailey always avoided telling the truth about this murder, of which, beyond any reasonable doubt, he knew every detail. 'Irish judicial authorities never wanted to charge him or extradite him to France, in disregard of European commitments based on the principle of mutual trust between states, which Ireland signed and ratified.' 'With Bailey's death, Sophie's family and our association will never be able to obtain a confession from Ian Bailey. 'We continue our efforts for truth and justice. An investigation is underway in Ireland, and we are confident that the discovery of new elements, the hearing of new witnesses, and the revelation of possible complicity will enable Irish police to close the case, 27 years after the murder.'
