Ian Bailey: ‘Order is an abuse of process’

Ian Bailey will not be extradited to France to face trial for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier after a High Court judge threw out an attempt to have him surrendered to French authorities, describing the action as “an abuse of process”.

The rejection of the extradition bid was welcomed by Mr Bailey, who has always denied any involvement in the death of the French filmmaker, and by his solicitor, Frank Buttimer, but was met with dismay by members of the du Plantier family and their supporters.

In an RTÉ documentary screened last night, Ms du Plantier’s son, Pierre Louis Baudey-Vignaud, said: “I am confident that we will get the answer. I’m not sure if it will be tomorrow, in one month, in one year, in 10 years. But I must get the answer for my grandparents before they die.”