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FRENCH DETECTIVES ARE due to return to Ireland next month to conduct a final round of interviews as part of an investigation into the murder of French film maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Schull, Co Cork.
The Irish Independent reports that the French magistrate investigating the death of the French woman in 1996 in West Cork will rule on whether suspect Ian Bailey should be tried in absentia as soon as this round of interviews is concluded.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Ian Bailey’s solicitor Frank Buttimer said he has not been contacted by French police seeking cooperation from Bailey and said it would be “beyond belief”.
“If there was any approach by the so called French authorities, it would be dealt with appropriately”, he said.
Bailey, a former journalist, has always denied any involvement in the woman’s murder and the Supreme Court ruled in March that he should not be extradited to France for questioning on foot of a European arrest warrant.
However the French authorities may still seek to try Bailey in his absence and if convicted, his extradition to France would be sought again, this time as a convicted person to serve a sentence.
“Ian Bailey has always maintained that the extradition would be refused and that in the event of a refusal, he would be tried in absentia,” Buttimer said.
Du Plantier’s body was found outside her West Cork home just days before Christmas 1996. Her family launched a campaign this month to have Ireland taken to the European Court of Justice in order to have its extradition laws changed.
In French law, a person can be tried in France for an offence against a French citizen, regardless of where in the world it occurred.
Buttimer said his client believes it would be impossible for him to obtain a fair hearing in France as he has “already been deemed guilty by the French system”.
Totally peeded of with putting it forward and back. Why can’t we just leave it forward so we still have brighter evenings where I can get things done in daylight after finishing work. Can’t do nothing in the darkness!!
@Brian Kelly: be dark at nearly 10 in the morning if they are left.
@Brian Kelly: what time do you finish work that it would still be bright?
@Brian Kelly: because the sunrise would be close to 10 am in mid winter with no advantage a night time.
Just means the kids will have us up at 5am instead of 6am
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: those were the days, now we have to wake them up
@Tom kenny: its a lot better!
@Derek Moran: jaysus, it’s mighty
I’ve 4 waines under 6yrs that will remind me
We will be going back an hour a day when Sinn Feinn in power .
Yawn !
And the last 100 years of FG/FF ?
@Karl: yep you will be tired of going back to been the poor of Europe with these gombeens
Yep because it’s all been rosey under the administrations in power… SF might not be the cure and I don’t think protest votes help anyone but the threat of them should get FF/FG to get their $h!t together.
I see the former housing minister is creaming €450 a day as an election observer wonder how he got that job?
@Dave Byrne: do you know how hard these guys work? Wait a minute, politicians, not those guys.
@Dave Byrne: as bad as FF and FG are Sinn Feinn are the bottom of the barrel everyone knows that .
Obviously not David, because they topped the red sea poll this week, just maybe (just maybe) you are slightly prejudice and need to vent a little
You will lose an hour of your life listening to people reminding you to put them back..
Excellent . Totally forgot. As I tuck into he for work in the morning . What a lil surprise.
@slfc21: bed*
I’m alright Jack. Have me fux capacitor fired up and ready to go.
This is 2021 – a smartphone never forgets! :-)
If you work nights do you gain or lose an hours pay??
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