4 days ago
Closure for Jules Thomas as she joins Bailey's sister for scattering of ashes
Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder suspect Ian Bailey's ashes were scattered yesterday into the sea at his favourite spot on Dunmanas Bay, west Cork.
His former partner Jules Thomas joined his sister Kay Reynolds in a private scattering of the remainder of his ashes yesterday.
Ms Thomas had devoted 27 years of her life to supporting the self-confessed chief suspect in the unsolved Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder case, amid a lengthy saga of accusations and legal battles, finally giving up on him in the spring of 2021 and throwing him out, she said at the time, 'to save my sanity'. Jules Thomas and Ian Bailey. Pic: Collins Courts
Ms Reynolds – who carried a bag with his ashes, which she received in January 2024 after his cremation in Cork – said yesterday was an opportune time to pay a final farewell to him around midsummer when he had first arrived in Ireland from England.
Having failed to invite Welsh-born Ms Thomas to attend the much-publicised scattering of ashes that were spread on the waters off Skeaghanore pier near Ballydehob overlooking Roaring Water Bay on Friday, Ms Reynolds saved some of them to scatter with Ms Thomas together in private.
She told a contact earlier that the reason the ashes would be scattered at high tide was to make sure 'that they are carried out on the water and don't stay stuck on the rocks'.
She added: 'We have to make sure that he is taken out to sea.' Jules Thomas Ian Bailey Pic: Collins Courts
Ms Thomas has described the scattering of Mr Bailey's ashes as closure, while Ms Reynolds had reached out to the artist asking her to join with her together in a private moment of remembrance.
Ms Reynolds had not been in contact with her brother for some time before his death aged 66 last year. In 2019, Bailey was convicted of murder in absentia by the Cour d'Assises in Paris and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Ms Reynolds recalled their sorrow that he could not attend their mother Brenda's funeral because he feared he would be arrested and extradited to France to serve a long prison sentence.
She said: 'He felt the cruelty of this very, very much.' She also paid tribute to Ms Thomas, saying she 'had loyally supported him for over 30 years'. Jim Sheridan with Jules Thomas. Pic: Hells Kitchen/Barbara McCarthy via Sky Studios
Friday's ashes-scattering had been attended by a group of Bailey's friends, including filmmaker Jim Sheridan, solicitor Frank Buttimer, documentary-maker Donal MacIntyre and Sam Bungey, who co-produced a podcast about the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier.
The 39-year-old French filmmaker was murdered outside her holiday home near Toormore, Goleen, Co. Cork, on the night of December 23, 1996.
