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.