Ian Bailey 'probably was 100% innocent' of Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder, says film director

Jim Sheridan believes the case is a 'double injustice'

Jim Sheridan: 'I don’t think he killed her and there’s not a shred of evidence to say he did.' File picture: Sky Studios

Film director Jim Sheridan has said that the late Ian Bailey “probably was 100% innocent” of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork.

The battered body of the 39-year-old French film producer was found near her holiday home in Toormore on the outskirts of Schull in West Cork on December 23, 1996.

Mr Sheridan said he believes the case is a "double injustice".

“I feel Sophie’s murderer has never been found, her death has never been avenged. A man who probably was 100% innocent has been castigated through life; he lived a horrible life and died a horrible death and has a horrible name," he told Newstalk Breakfast.

“I don’t think he killed her and there’s not a shred of evidence to say he did.” 

Mr Sheridan’s new drama Re Creation, about the murder, recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Starring Colm Meaney, Aidan Gilles and Vicky Krieps, it imagines what could have unfolded if the unresolved murder had gone before a jury in Ireland.

Ian Bailey, who died in January 2024 at the age of 66, was the self-confessed chief suspect in the case. He was on two occasions detained by Gardaí for questioning in relation to the murder.

Ian Bailey (pictured), who died in January 2024 at the age of 66, was the self-confessed chief suspect in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder case. File picture: Dan Linehan

Mr Bailey was convicted in absentia after a trial in France in 2015. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, officials in France were unable to extradite him to Paris to serve the sentence handed down by the courts.

Mr Sheridan said that Mr Bailey’s conviction in Paris was a “farce". He said that he “of course” knew he risked causing upset to the family of Toscan du Plantier with his new drama.

“You can’t say because you’re upset that you can ruin another man’s life,” he said. "There’s no evidence.” 

Mr Sheridan acknowledged that Mr Bailey’s history of violence with his former partner Jules Thomas was “not good".

He said that there was no doubt of the suffering experienced by the family of Ms Toscan du Plantier. However, Mr Sheridan stressed that the family of Mr Bailey have also suffered over the years.

I’m sure Ian Bailey’s sister was upset that there was nobody at his funeral and that he had to die in that ignominious way.

Alain Spilliaert, a lawyer for Ms Toscan du Plantier’s family, said he has not seen the film yet but has expressed concern about its potential content.

“We feel that it is not relevant to show a fictional movie at this point of time of the criminal investigation. This is such a large, sensitive case in Ireland… and it’s not finished.”