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A MAN WHO claimed to have survived the 2015 massacre at the Bataclan theatre in Paris, describing his brush with death in vivid detail although he was nowhere near the scene, was sentenced to six months in jail today.
The court in Versailles, south of Paris, sentenced Cedric Rey, 29, to two years in jail with 18 months suspended for attempted fraud against a state fund for the victims of terrorism.
Rey’s account of the 13 November 2015 attack was used by several French media, including AFP.
The ambulance driver claimed he was having a drink with two friends outside the Bataclan when three Islamic State jihadists stormed the venue during a concert, launching a three-hour bomb and gun attack that left 90 people dead.
Rey claimed that one of the gunmen aimed his rifle at him and fired but that a pregnant woman, who was walking past “took the bullets meant for me”.
After the attack he sought compensation from the government fund for the victims of terrorism but his application was turned down after he failed to supply documents proving his claim.
He also joined the Life for Paris survivors’ group and, like several of those who escaped death, got a tattoo commemorating the attack, in his case of Marianne, symbol of the French Republic, with the Bataclan in the background.
At least seven people have been found guilty of fraud or attempted fraud over the Paris attacks, which also targeted the Stade de France stadium and several bars and restaurants in eastern Paris, killing 230 people in total.
Discrepancies in his story
Police became suspicious about Rey’s story after noting several discrepancies, including the fact that no pregnant woman was killed in the Bataclan assault.
They then traced his whereabouts that night using his mobile phone data and discovered he was about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Bataclan when the attack began and showed up outside the theatre around midnight, after it had ended.
Rey, who now lives in the French territory of New Caledonia in the South Pacific, has admitted to fabricating the story.
During a return visit to mainland France in October he handed himself in to police.
He was remanded in custody pending his trial and ordered to undergo psychological tests.
Rey’s lawyer earlier refused to comment on the case and said his client no longer wanted to speak to the media.
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What purpose does it serve to let Micky swan around South America? Living the life of luxury while he preaches his Socialist Bullshit here in Ireland? Be gone you fool, we don’t need a president
They don’t call them Champagne Socialists for nothing.
‘Micky Swan’…. I shall be using that in conversation today.
Couldn’t agree more, if we want to send out trade missions then lets send out experienced business people, not this pointless twerp.
Business people! You must be joking. Look where they got us with their greed.
And this little pointless junket cost us how much?, more than some struggling families have to live on in a year. Time to cull these wasteful political positions. I’ve no doubt the President is a genuine and honest man, but we simply cannot afford the baggage while being picked clean by an inept political system stretching back decades.
What a waste of time and money
Agree. A total waste of money, and Joe Costello – Minister for Nothing, along for the ride, visiting a banana plant- how apt coming from a Banana Republic!
Glad to see the mentalists didn’t let this go. Head of State in foreign visit shocker! These things have been going on since the days of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Calm down, lads. This is part of his job.
Small man makes big impression.
Seeing as impeachment of presidents is in the news today , when will this president be impeached for failure to protect our Constitution?
Wake up Dail Eireann or loose your jobs !
It seems el Presidente has been on a global junket since being elected. I would be interested to know how much travelling he has done compared to previous presidents.
Just hope he’s not stopped at Dublin airport with a load of coke in his hair bun.
our president looks like Doc out of back to the future :)
An awful lot of angry red hands supporting Higgins and his junket. Genuine question, what would they have done if he had to fly back to nationalise debt as he did when at a gig in Rome some time back?
I wonder will he bring us back a parrot?
*La ultíma día* surely??
have your say