French set struggle to extradite Ian Bailey

An expert on constitutional law believes French authorities will find it difficult to succeed in their efforts to extradite Ian Bailey, in part because he is a UK citizen.

Prof Shane Kilcommins of the University of Limerick said that while the French authorities wanting Mr Bailey to stand trial for the 1996 murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier was “new territory”, Mr Bailey could make a number of arguments as to why he should not be extradited.

It emerged on Thursday that French Judge Nathalie Turquey had last week initiated efforts to have Mr Bailey face trial in connection with Ms du Plantier’s death in Schull almost 20 years ago, a move welcomed by her son.