Ex-garda denies arresting Bailey’s partner ‘in bad faith’

A former detective inspector has denied gardaí arrested Jules Thomas in bad faith so as to put pressure on her partner Ian Mr Bailey, at the time of his first arrest in connection with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork.

Michael Kelleher, now retired, said Ms Thomas was arrested on February 10, 1997, under common law for the crime of murder, the same day Mr Bailey was arrested. His understanding was, when a person is arrested for murder, it does not mean they themselves have had to have committed murder, they could have aided and abetted it or been an accessory.

He said there was a reasonable suspicion Ms Thomas was “an accessory after the fact” and had told “lies” concerning Mr Bailey being at home on the morning of December 23, 1996, the day Ms Toscan du Plantier’s body was found.