Bantry, Ireland – Ian Bailey, the prime suspect in the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, has passed away in the west Co Cork at the age of 67. It is believed that Bailey suffered a suspected heart attack near the Square in Bantry, where members of the public came to his aid and performed CPR on him for more than 15 minutes before paramedics arrived and attempted to revive him. Despite their efforts, Bailey was pronounced dead at Bantry General Hospital.
Bailey, a former journalist from Manchester, England, had settled in Ireland in 1991 and had been working as a freelance reporter. He was initially arrested and questioned in connection to the murder of Ms. Toscan du Plantier in 1996 but was released without charge. In 2019, he was convicted in absentia in Paris for the voluntary homicide of Ms. Toscan du Plantier but was not extradited.
Bailey had been vocal about his innocence regarding the murder and had endured legal battles and health issues, including two heart attacks that had caused significant damage to his heart. His lawyer, Frank Buttimer, maintained that Bailey was innocent and had been a victim of state persecution. However, news of Bailey’s death was met with dismay in France, as it raised concerns about the unresolved questions surrounding Ms. Toscan du Plantier’s murder.
While Bailey’s death marks the end of his ongoing legal battles, it also leaves unanswered questions for Ms. Toscan du Plantier’s family, who had hoped for closure through the ongoing cold case review. The circumstances of Bailey’s death have reignited calls for the Irish Garda to continue their investigation and to provide further clarity on the case.
Throughout his life, Bailey continued to assert his innocence and expressed hopes that the truth would eventually emerge. His passing serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of unresolved cases and the complexities of seeking justice in high-profile criminal investigations.