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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.
Amazing how there’s always people who will do this type of sad stunt
@Keith Healy: Did a bit of research on this chap, Alt-Right Christian, no scruples so unsurprising.
@Justin Barrett: What religion were the terrorists?
@Dj: No religion. Mentally ill I’d say.
@Justin Barrett: Maybe you need to do some more research.
@Dj: Come back to me when you’ve attained a PhD.
@Justin Barrett: I have a Ph pencil and give your mother the D. Will that do?
@Dj: No. But it is an accurate reflection of how you struggled in school and at making friends!
@Keith Healy: politicians in another life I’d bet
@Justin Barrett: The only thing I struggle with is why you changed your ‘Atheous’ account. Get banned again? Or was it because you made a fool of yourself on that Hallawa article?!.
@Dj: I’ve no idea what you are talking about you crazed individual.
Good to see he was named & shamed. Dirty bastaŕd.
This type of thing is very common , stolen valour , someone claiming to have been a hero , or stared death in the face . It’s fraud , but when perpetrated on the people of the ”state” it’s a mistake , when perpetrated on ”the state” it’s fraud .
@Ken Hayden: good stuff ken
@Ken Hayden: it’s always fraud….irrespective of who or what it’s perpertrated against. If this happened in Ireland the fraudster would most likely get away with it. The French police went all out to nail this rickp…
@Ricardo Shillyshally: I agree , it’s fraud . He probably started out for personal reasons , and moved on to financial ones . People do stupid things , at least he handed himself in .
He didn’t kill anyone in these attacks , he pretended he was a hero , he tried to claim money that he wasn’t entitled to , now he will suffer the consequences of his stupidity .
@Ken Hayden: Jesus Ken, were you born a moron ?
wheres the breaking news of a foiled nail bomb at a Christmas market in Germany?
@purple rain: It’s a Friday night in Europe , where would we be without some mad jihadi trying to kill us .
Thank’s Merkel .
@Ken Hayden: Anders Breivik and Thomas Mair weren’t jihadis, they were Far-Right, anti-immigration Nationalists.
130 people killed in total, not 230
Reminds me of all the heroes who claimed to be in the GPO in 1916 and got Old IRA pensions for it.
Disgusting !
Very hard to get lower than this.
“Come to me you black piece of……Plastic”
@Rondon: I was thinking the same thing
This post was meant for the Toy show not sure how its in here but while Im here, judging by Tubridy tonight he might be facing 6 months himself
What a sicko
That’s the first time i’ve heard of a fake person getting sent to prison
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