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Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Jim Sheridan: 'Not one shred of evidence to say Bailey did it'
Oscar-nominated film director Jim Sheridan has said there is 'not one shred of evidence' to convict Ian Bailey of the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Oscar nominated Sheridan said he believes Ian Bailey is 'probably innocent' of the murder of the French film-maker, who was bludgeoned to death outside her holiday home in Schull in West Cork in December 1996. Sheridan, probably best known for the Oscar nominated movie My Left Foot, has released a new docudrama entitled Re-Creation, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York recently. Pic: REX/Shutterstock (442642m) SOPHIE TOSCAN DU PLANTIER SOPHIE TOSCAN DU PLANTIER RETROSPECTIVE The drama promises to show new evidence in the unsolved case, which Jim Sheridan described as a 'double injustice' Explaining what he meant, he said 'I feel Sophie's murderer has never been found and her death has never been avenged'. 'A man who probably was 100% innocent has been castigated through life, he lived a horrible life and died a horrible death and has a horrible name. I don't think he killed her and there's not a shred of evidence to say he did.' Jim Sheridan. Pic: JuanIan Bailey was convicted of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, by a court in Paris, and sentenced to 25 years in prison, a conviction Jim Sheridan described as a 'farce' but Ian Bailey did not serve any prison time as the French authorities were unable to extradite him from Ireland to France. When he was asked about how the Toscan du Plantier family may feel about his new Docudrama, Sheridan said 'of course' he knew there was a risk of upsetting Sophie's family but added, 'You can't say because you're upset, that you can ruin another man's life.' He continued that the family of Mr Bailey have also suffered over the years. Ian Bailey 'I'm sure Ian Bailey's sister was upset that there was nobody at his funeral and that he had to die that ignominious way,' he said. 'I'm sure she's upset.' When asked about Mr Bailey's history of violence, Mr Sheridan described it as 'not good' Alain Spilliaert, a lawyer for Ms Toscan du Plantier's family, also spoke to Newstalk Breakfast and said that while he has not seen the film yet, he does have some concerns, He added, 'We feel that it is not relevant to show a fictional movie at this point in the criminal investigation.'
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Director Jim Sheridan says there wasn't a 'shred of evidence' against Ian Bailey
Oscar nominated film director Jim Sheridan has said he believes Ian Bailey was 'probably innocent' of the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier. The French filmmaker was bludgeoned to death outside her holiday home in Toormore on the outskirts of Schull in West Cork on December 23, 1996. Mr Bailey – who always denied the killing of the mother – remained as the key suspect into her horrific death, but was never charged by Gardai, however he was convicted of murder in absentia in a French court in 2019. My Left Foot director, Jim Sheridan, has released a new docudrama, Re-Creation, which premiered in the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in recent days. It promises to bring new evidence to light about Ms Toscan du Plantier's death in West Cork in 1996. Mr Sheridan said he believes there is "not a shred of evidence" that Mr Bailey – who died in January 2024 - killed Mrs Toscan du Plantier. On Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Sheridan said he believes the case is a "double injustice". 'I feel Sophie's murderer has never been found, her death has never been avenged,' he said. 'A man who probably was 100% innocent has been castigated through life; he lived a horrible life and died a horrible death and has a horrible name. I don't think he killed her and there's not a shred of evidence to say he did.' Mr Bailey was convicted in absentia after a trial in France in 2015. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, officials in France were unable to extradite him to Paris to serve the sentence handed down by the courts. Mr Sheridan said that Mr Bailey's conviction in a French court was a 'farce'. When asked about the reaction of the Toscan du Plantier family, Mr Sheridan said that 'of course' he knew he risked upsetting them when he made the film. 'You can't say because you're upset that you can ruin another man's life,' he said. 'There's no evidence.' He continued that the family of Mr Bailey have also suffered over the years. 'I'm sure Ian Bailey's sister was upset that there was nobody at his funeral and that he had to die that ignominious way,' he said. 'I'm sure she's upset.' During a defamation trial in Dublin in 2014, Mr Bailey admitted that he had been "seriously violent" towards his partner on three occasions. When asked about Mr Bailey's history of violence, Mr Sheridan described it as 'not good'. Also on the programme, Alain Spilliaert, a lawyer for Ms Toscan du Plantier's family, said he had not seen the film yet but that he has concerns. 'Mr Jean-Pierre Gazeau, the uncle of Sophie and President of the Association, raised the issue of questionable ethics,' he said. 'We feel that it is not relevant to show a fictional movie at this point of time of the criminal investigation. 'This is such a large, sensitive case in Ireland… and it's not finished.' Mr Spilliaert added that it would have been better to wait until the investigation finishes before any drama about the case is released.
