Latest news with #Re-Creation
Irish Post
18-07-2025
- Irish Post
Lawyer's bid to prosecute journalist over Sophie Toscan du Plantier case dismissed
A FORMER State solicitor who was involved in the case against Ian Bailey has failed in a legal bid to privately prosecute a journalist who wrote a book about the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Robert Sheehan, who worked with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in 2001, sought to bring a case against journalist and author Senan Molony, alleging professional vilification through comments made in Sophie: The Final Verdict , a book published in 2024. Mr Sheehan also alleged that comments made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the book's launch had damaged his reputation. During the event, Mr Martin reportedly questioned aspects of the Irish justice system's handling of the Bailey case. This week, Judge Ann Watkin of the Dún Laoghaire District Court declined to issue a summons against Mr Molony. The judge found that the journalist's criticisms were directed at the legal process more broadly and did not provide grounds for a criminal prosecution. The DPP had previously determined that the material submitted by Mr Sheehan did not disclose any offence that could be prosecuted in the courts. Mr Sheehan has indicated that he may appeal the decision to the Circuit Court or to the European Court of Human Rights. His complaint centred on remarks in the book and at the launch event that he believes called into question his actions and conclusions while working on the Bailey case. Speaking at the launch in September 2023, Mr Martin is understood to have expressed concern at how the case was handled, saying it was difficult to understand why authorities had not pursued a prosecution. Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a French film producer who was found dead outside her holiday home in West Cork in December 1996. Ian Bailey, a journalist who was long considered the main suspect by gardaí, was never charged in Ireland despite being arrested and questioned twice. In 2019, a French court convicted him in absentia and sentenced him to 25 years in prison. The Irish State declined to extradite him. Mr Bailey died in January 2024 in Co. Cork, at the age of 66. He always totally denied any involvement in the case. More recently, director Jim Sheridan premiered a dramatised film based on the case— Re-Creation —at the Tribeca Film Festival. Mr Sheridan has publicly expressed supreme doubt over Mr Bailey's guilt, describing the situation as a 'double injustice' in which both families had suffered. While acknowledging Mr Bailey's history of domestic violence, Mr Sheridan maintained that this should not be conflated with responsibility for the murder. The murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a French film producer found bludgeoned outside her holiday home in West Cork in December 1996, remains one of Ireland's most infamous unsolved crimes.
Extra.ie
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier 'fully respect' Bailey ceremony
The family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier said they do not believe it would be appropriate to comment on the scattering of Ian Bailey's ashes during a ceremony in west Cork on Friday. The French filmmaker's uncle, Jean Pierre Gazeau, told 'We want to fully respect the ceremony, so we don't have any comment to make. 'It's a private thing. We respect fully the kind of event and ceremony.' Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Pic: REX/Shutterstock Ms Toscan du Plantier's family had called for Mr Bailey to be extradited to France, where a court found he was guilty of her murder in May 2019. They recently criticised a new film by Jim Sheridan, Re-Creation, which focuses on what may have happened if an Irish jury had to deliberate on the case. Jim Sheridan. Pic: Juan) Ms Toscan du Plantier's family described the movie as 'ethically questionable'. Mr Gazeau said while they 'fully acknowledge' Mr Sheridan's reputation as a gifted and accomplished filmmaker, they 'regret he has chosen to apply his talent to a project based on questionable evidence'. The six-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker defended his film, stating that it was not intended to cause distress to the family.
Extra.ie
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Ian Baileys ashes to be spread in West Cork
Ian Bailey will have his last request honoured by family and friends this weekend when his ashes are scattered in West Cork. The 67 year old died suddenly from a heart attack in Bantry, West Cork, last year and was cremated just days afterwards. The former poet had been the 'main suspect' in the murder of 'Sophie Toscan du Plantier' for a number of years, but always argued his innocence, saying the accusations 'ruined his life'. Ian Bailey The French woman was brutally murdered outside her holiday home in Schull in December 1996, and as yet nobody has been charged with her killing. This weekend's ceremony for Ian Bailey is expected to be attended by members of his family, and a number of close friends, including film maker Jim Sheridan who has always defended Ian Baileys innocence. 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. Jim Sheridan. Pic: JuanThe drama promises to show new evidence in the unsolved Du Plantier case, which Jim Sheridan described as a 'double injustice' Defending Ian Bailey, 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.' Ian Baileys final wish was to have his ashes spread in West Cork where he had lived most of his life and it's expected to be a quiet, strictly private affair.
The Irish Sun
15-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘Sheridan's arguments are very, very wrong,' says Sophie Toscan du Plantier family in shock new claims as film premieres
THE family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier have said an Irish filmmaker's 'arguments' about her murder are 'totally wrong' and 'complete fantasy'. They also fear a new movie inspired by the Advertisement 6 Ian Bailey was arrested over Sophie's murder at her holiday home Credit: AFP 6 Sophie was murdered on December 23, 1996, near Schull in Co Cork Credit: PA 6 Jim Sheridan's new film, Re-Creation, premiered in New York earlier this month Credit: Getty Jim Sheridan's new film, Re-Creation, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York earlier this month. He said that it was not intended to cause any distress to the Toscan du Plantier family, adding: 'I'm not trying to upset them, I'm not trying to do anything to them.' Advertisement But he says there's not a 'shred of evidence' against The 39-year-old had suffered brutal injuries in a gruesome killing that shocked both Ireland and France. The A French court convicted Bailey in absentia in 2019, but he was never extradited over there after the High Advertisement Sophie's uncle Jean-Pierre Gazeau insists he does not want to react to everything Sheridan says. But in an interview with The Irish Sun, Jean-Pierre said on one occasion he spoke to Sheridan, who told him about a 'scenario' and he insisted it was 'complete fantasy.' He explained that the problem with Sheridan's movie is that it will be watched by many people not aware of the evidence against Bailey. Jean-Pierre told us: 'Many people are going to listen to him, agree with him, but without any deep knowledge of the investigation file. 'A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE' 'There was a very high level of circumstantial evidence against Bailey. There is no direct proof like DNA, but there is a lot of circumstantial evidence. Advertisement 'I think, to some extent, we cannot at all agree with the current behaviour of Jim Sheridan.' Two investigations remain ongoing in Ireland, one by a local team of Jean-Pierre went on: 'Jim Sheridan has his own opinion. Of course, we completely disagree. We disagree about the fact he's made a movie while there are still investigations continuing in Ireland. 'There are two teams, you know, and they are really doing a lot of work. So I think the most reasonable attitude would be to wait. 'We heard arguments given by Sheridan many times, which are wrong, totally wrong.' Advertisement Jean-Pierre pointed towards the interviewing of Sophie's estranged husband Daniel and also that a witness in the case, Marie Farrell, had not been called over for the French proceedings. Ms Farrell claimed that she saw Bailey at Kealfadda Bridge near the murder scene on the night in question. But she later retracted statements given to gardai. 'IT'S NOT TRUE' Jean-Pierre added: 'When Jim Sheridan says that Daniel Toscan du Plantier was never interviewed by the Gardai, it's not true. 'He went to Ireland to be interviewed by the Gardai in 1998, so it's completely wrong. 'Another example is when he says that during the French trial, the French justice had to invite Marie Farrell to give her statement. It was the role of the defence to invite her as a witness. So it's completely wrong.' Advertisement Jean-Pierre explained that, to 'some extent', the question of who killed Sophie was solved in 2019 at the French trial. But he insists it was the 'responsibility' of Bailey himself and Irish authorities to extradite him to defend himself in fresh proceedings. He said: 'If Bailey had been expelled to come to France, he would have had the right of a new trial with a full defence.' Sheridan said the new movie, which stars Aidan Gillen and Colm Meaney, will reveal new info about Sophie's death. 6 Sophie's uncle Jean-Pierre Gazeau insists he does not want to react to everything Sheridan says Credit: PA Advertisement 6 Sheridan said the new movie, which stars Aidan Gillen and Colm Meaney, will reveal new info about Sophie's death Credit: PR Handout image 6 Sophie was murdered at the house in 1996 Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
Irish Daily Mirror
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ian Bailey's ex-partner shares she is battling 'incurable illness'
The ex-partner of Ian Bailey has revealed she is battling an 'incurable illness' and says she would like to go to scatter his ashes with his sisters 'to say goodbye'. Jules Thomas was in a relationship with Mr Bailey – who was accused of killing French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier on December 23, 1996 – for more than 30 years before splitting with him in 2021. She revealed she has been battling an 'incurable illness' since 2021, which she said she was diagnosed with soon after Netflix released its 'biased' and 'disgusting' documentary, Sophie: A Murder in West Cork. The Welsh-born artist told us the stress of the unsolved murder case had taken a serious toll on her body. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, she revealed: 'My consultant asked, 'were you under much stress?' I said, 'unbelievable stress.' 'It's not public knowledge but my daughters know. It was an unbelievable amount of stress. I began to feel unwell around the time the Netflix documentary came out. My immune system became very low. I was picking up every cold and flu.' She credits daily floor exercises she learned during her modern dance classes in boarding school to keep her body flexible and also gardening daily. Ms Thomas admitted: 'I'm feeling fine. I tire easily. I've a big garden. I do it on my own. I've an acre of grass to cut, I've about 10,000 plants in pots. I've a big front garden full of veg. There are ponds to clean.' In 1996, the bludgeoned body of Ms Toscan du Plantier was found outside her home in a remote part of West Cork. Mr Bailey was accused of her murder but was never charged with her killing. Ms Thomas believes she should never have been subjected to such stress over the murder, which she adamantly denies having any involvement in or knowledge of. She also backed Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan's claim in his new movie, Re-Creation, that Gardaí never had a 'shred of evidence' on Mr Bailey, saying authorities wrongfully arrested the pair. Starring Colm Meaney, Aidan Gilles and Vicky Krieps, Re-Creation – which premiered last week at the Tribeca Film Festival – imagines what could have unfolded if the unresolved murder had gone before a jury in Ireland. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast on Tuesday, Mr Sheridan 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.' He was on two occasions detained by Gardaí for questioning in relation to the murder but was never charged. Mr Bailey – who always denied any involvement in her murder – was convicted in absentia after a trial in France in 2015. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Ms Thomas said of the case: 'I should never have been subjected to that level of stress, when there was never a shred of evidence. There were two wrongful arrests. 'They had not a shred of evidence that we had anything to do with that woman. I never saw her, I never knew her. I knew of her from the people in the area. 'We knew of her but that was only because Ian worked up with [one of]the neighbours. It's a very remote track. You wouldn't know anyone unless you lived up there.' The unsolved murder was subject to many documentaries, including Netflix's Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, which aired in 2021. Earlier this year, Ms Thomas revealed she was suing Netflix and production company Lightbox Media over their 2021 documentary. She alleges filming for the production took place at her home without her permission, while also alleging that it contains falsehoods and made her a social pariah in the community she lives in West Cork. Both parties, represented by Matheson, are fully defending the claims in the case. Speaking about the Netflix documentary, Ms Thomas fumed to the Sunday Mirror: 'That shocking documentary they did was so biased. I thought it was disgusting.' Earlier this year, it was revealed Mr Bailey's sister, Kay Reynolds, would scatter her dead brother's ashes in a place he loved in West Cork. Ms Thomas also said she would've gone along with his sister to help scatter his ashes to say goodbye to the late UK journalist. And while Ms Reynolds hasn't contacted her, she said: 'She wants to keep it low key as possible.. but I would go and say goodbye.' Ms Thomas said Mr Bailey drank and took drugs to 'block out the hell he was living' after being accused of the murder. In January 2024, Mr Bailey collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack aged 66. She added: 'He had a big group of friends in Bantry. He apparently resorted to cocaine in the end because the drink wasn't doing anything. 'He needed to block out the hell he was living with so that is what he resorted to apparently.' Speaking about her own relationship with him, the 75-year-old said she couldn't live with him anymore after he would incessantly talk about the case all day. She said: 'It was ghastly what he went through but I couldn't live with him anymore. 'He never shut up about it, he went on and on and on, morning, noon and night. I couldn't sleep then. 'Before going to bed, he'd be on about, 'Oh the French are coming to get me in the middle of the night'. It went on and on and on. It was a nightmare.' It emerged Mr Bailey had been 'seriously violent' towards his Welsh-born artist girlfriend three times, which saw her also take out a protection order against him. Ms Thomas said she would regularly be stared at by people in the Schull Market on Sundays where she would sell her paintings. She said the case hindered her from earning a decent living as people were afraid to approach her. She added: 'I think it put an awful lot of people near me because they believed what the guards were saying. 'I got horrible stares at the market for years from people from Dublin or wherever in the country. The locals were lovely.'
