Ian Bailey ‘knew about evidence in Sophie murder case before it became public’
Ian Bailey tried to pin the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier on a man charged in East Cork in connection with the possession of two hatchets — two weeks before it was known that such a weapon was missing from the Frenchwoman’s home.
The claim is contained in a new book on the murder by journalist Senan Molony, .
This weekend, Tánaiste Micheál Martin doubled down on comments he made at the book launch on Thursday night during which he said the State had failed in its duty “to find and convict a bloody murderer, and our system blocked alternative routes when others were not willing to accept our failures”.
On Friday, at the North South Ministerial Council meeting, Mr Martin said the evidence in Mr Molony’s book led him to the conclusion that the State did fail Ms du Plantier.
“There has to be space in our public discourse for that kind of reflection, observation, otherwise we’re reinforcing issues that do need to change over time,” the Tánaiste said.
Ms Toscan du Plantier, a French film producer, 39, was found battered to death outside her holiday home in Toormore, Schull, on December 23, 1996.
Mr Bailey was questioned twice about the killing.
In 2019, Mr Bailey was found guilty in his absence, and without legal representation, of the murder in France.
A 25-year sentence was imposed, but his extradition to France was blocked by a High Court decision in October 2020.
He died in January after becoming ill on the street in Bantry, as a cold case review into her murder set up in 2022 continued.
Mr Molony says in his book that Mr Bailey submitted an article for the newspaper on January 3, 1997, in which he referenced the case against a German man who was charged in Midleton some days previously in connection with possession of a petrol bomb and two hatchets.
Mr Bailey wrote: “There was nobody available at Bantry Garda Station to say whether there is a possible link between the two incidents.”
However, Mr Molony says that the discovery that a hatchet was missing from Ms du Plantier’s home was not made until Ms du Plantier’s housekeeper, Josie Helen, noticed it missing on January 17, 1997.
Mr Molony says that Mr Bailey also nominated a local teenager with mental health problems, and Ms du Plantier’s close neighbour Alfie Lyons, as possible murder suspects to gardaí.
Reacting to questions about Mr Martin’s comments on Thursday night, Taoiseach Simon Harris yesterday described the ongoing fight for justice by Ms Toscan du Plantier’s family as being “extraordinarily” upsetting.
Asked if he would consider a public inquiry into her death, Mr Harris said that the ongoing cold case analysis should be allowed to be completed first.
“Then, obviously Government can see where the matter stands at that stage,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Bailey’s solicitor Frank Buttimer told the that he found Mr Martin’s comments “extraordinary”.
While describing him as a politician for whom he had much respect, Mr Buttimer said: “I cannot understand any circumstances in which he could imagine that it would be appropriate to speak in such a fashion.
“From a politician of ministerial rank and a former taoiseach of the country, I don’t recall hearing commentary of this kind or criticism of this kind in relation to our system of justice.”
He added: “His commentary must be seen in the context that is not just in relation to the case of Ian Bailey but seems to be a general criticism also of the justice system.
“This case was always beyond Ian Bailey once it became an extradition battle between Ireland and France.”
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