Bailey is an innocent man, says solicitor

THE solicitor representing Ian Bailey, the self-confessed chief suspect in the murder of French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier, said yesterday his client was an innocent man.

Mr Bailey, a former freelance journalist, did not return to the West Cork cottage he shared with his long-term partner Jules Thomas following a circuit court ruling on his libel trial against eight newspapers.

Artist Ms Thomas, speaking at her residence at Toormore, near Schull, said she did not know where Mr Bailey was temporarily residing following the court hearing. “He thought it was safer to just keep out of the way,” she said.

Mr Bailey’s solicitor Con Murphy said he expected a statement to be issued on behalf of his client within a matter of days. The Bandon-based lawyer said Mr Bailey would continue to reiterate his “absolute innocence”.

In his summing up of the libel trial, circuit court Judge Patrick Moran said he had no hesitation in describing Mr Bailey as a violent man. He said Mr Bailey was a person who sought self-publicity and notoriety. The judge also ruled that articles in the newspapers did not state Mr Bailey was the murderer but conveyed he was a suspect.

Ms Thomas claimed yesterday that a campaign of intimidation was being waged against her and Mr Bailey. She said that following the court decision, six men with torches surrounded her house on Monday night. She said the torches were being flashed around the house in a menacing manner.

Her accusation angered one of her closest neighbours, North Yorkshire-born David Perry who moved to West Cork five years ago.

Mr Perry, 53, purchased a house previously owned by Ms Thomas. He said his relations with Ms Thomas and Mr Bailey have been strained.

After moving into the studio, Mr Perry said he discovered a diary and two letters belonging to Mr Bailey. The letters were destroyed but the diary had been returned to its owner, he said. Mr Perry said he had been formally cautioned by the gardaí in relation to a complaint of alleged harrassment by Mr Bailey and Ms Thomas.

“All I can say, and I think I’m speaking on behalf of many locals here, is that it’s not the neighbours that could be accused of being malicious, nasty, calculated and cold.”

He claimed: “The only intimidation that I have witnessed in my time here is when Ian Bailey runs to the boundary of his garden fence and starts shouting at people, including myself.”

Wildlife enthusiast and a treasurer of a local Birdwatch Ireland branch, Mr Perry said he had been accused by Mr Bailey of spying on the home he shared with Ms Thomas.

“I had the permission of the landowner to walk through the fields with my dog Jilly. Ian Bailey came to the boundary of the cottage site with a camera and a telephoto lens. He was shouting at me, I couldn’t’ hear what he was saying and I wasn’t interested.

“That afternoon, a garda came to my door and said Ian Bailey and Jules had made a complaint against me of harassment. They claimed I was walking in the fields spying on them.

“I have since walked through those fields, again with the permission of the landowner, and I have been careful not to provoke him.”

Mr Perry said he had no intention of vacating the area. “I’m not easily frightened or intimidated but I don’t think this is a place where you can leave your key in the door at nights. People here used to leave their doors unlocked but not any more. They are just too scared.”