Bailey was unable to attend mother’s funeral in UK over extradition bid

Ian Bailey’s sister has told the High Court a French bid for his extradition in connection with the murder in West Cork of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier meant he was unable to visit their dying mother in England or attend her funeral.

Kay Reynolds said their 88-year-old mother was already immobile and ill when she decided in 2013, having been told she was losing her sight, to refuse food.

Her doctors and carers met with the family and it was decided her mother had the necessary legal capacity to make that decision and they were advised she would die within two weeks.

Their mother died on May 18, 2013, and her only son, Ian, was unable to visit her or attend her funeral, Ms Reynolds said. She said he had maintained daily contact with her about how their mother was doing.

She said Ian is her only sibling, they are very close and he had a “very sweet, tender” relationsip with their mother.

The effect on him of her death was “so sad”, Ms Reynolds said, and she ensured he was very involved in choosing hymns and poems for the funeral service and also wrote the eulogy. Their father had died on Christmas Eve 1999, she added.

Earlier, Ms Reynolds said she was aware of the du Plantier case and was “very, very scared” for her brother when she learned, about the time of one of his law graudation ceremonies, France had issued a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) seeking his surrender to France in connection with the murder. She felt it was “unjust”.

She said Ian was calm and kept her informed of the EAW matter. She knew the strain it was on him but he had been “living with that for years”. She also knew the EAW meant he could not leave Ireland and, if he travelled to England, he could be arrested.

She remains close to Ian and has visited him in Ireland, Ms Reynolds added.

She was giving evidence in the continuing civil action by Mr Bailey against the Garda Commissioner and State arising from the conduct of the investigation into the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier whose body was found at Toormore, Schull, on December 23, 1996.

The defendants deny all of Mr Bailey’s claims, including of wrongful arrest and conspiracy to manufacture evidence.