British journalist Ian Bailey dies aged 66

A British journalist who was discovered responsible by a French court docket of murdering Sophie Toscan Du Plantier has died following a suspected coronary heart assault. 

Ian Bailey, who was convicted of murdering the filmmaker in 1996, collapsed on the street in Bantry, West Cork. 

People instantly rushed to offer help to the 66-year-old, who would have turned 67 on January 27. 

One native first aider reportedly supplied CPR for 20 minutes till the emergency providers arrived, however Mr Bailey was unresponsive and pronounced useless on the scene.  

He had beforehand suffered as much as three coronary heart assaults and had been admitted to each Bantry Hospital and Cork University Hospital, the place within the latter he had a process accomplished on his coronary heart. 

Ian Bailey, who was convicted of the 1996 homicide, collapsed on the street in Bantry, West Cork

Mr Bailey was one of many first to report on the dying of 39-year-old Sophie Toscan Du Plantier when she was murdered outdoors her vacation residence in a rural a part of West Cork

However, it was deemed he was too unwell to have a required by-pass operation. 

Mr Bailey was one of many first to report on the dying of 39-year-old Sophie Toscan Du Plantier when she was murdered outdoors her vacation residence in a rural a part of West Cork.

He was arrested twice however by no means tried in Ireland. In 2019 he was discovered responsible in France, the place he was tried ‘in absentia’ and sentenced to 25 years behind bars. 

In 2020, Ireland’s High Court rejected an try by French authorities to have him extradited. 

He has all the time denied any involvement within the horrendous homicide, however was arrested twice and questioned in regards to the homicide which horrified the nation.

While reporting on the case for newspapers throughout Ireland and the UK, Mr Bailey delivered meals to Sophie’s neighbour’s home – and noticed this as a chance to have a look at the crime scene. 

A Netflix documentary defined how Bailey wrote tales about Sophie having a string of lovers and having events with ‘intercourse, medication and rock and roll’ which locals blasted as ‘ridiculous’.

Mr Bailey had beforehand suffered as much as three coronary heart assaults and had been admitted to each Bantry Hospital and Cork University Hospital

An integral a part of French 90s showbusiness tradition, Sophie was the spouse of Daniel Toscan du Plantier, a well-known Parisian movie producer – and a pal of Jacques Chirac – and mom to Pierre Louis, her a lot adored son from a earlier relationship.

Her family and friends clarify that she had one lover – Bruno Carbonnet – who was identified to her husband and that they’d cut up acrimoniously in 1993. 

He was a suspect within the early investigation however was capable of show he was in Paris on the time of the homicide.

Sophie had beloved to retreat from the highlight and social whirl of Paris to the rugged magnificence and solitude of the wind-blown Irish coast, the place she could possibly be alone to assume, write and stroll.

Sophie had beloved to retreat from the highlight and social whirl of Paris to the rugged magnificence and solitude of the wind-blown Irish coast, the place she could possibly be alone to assume, write and stroll

Three years earlier than her dying she had purchased a bleached white home in West Cork, over the churning Atlantic Ocean, the Fastnet lighthouse blinking within the distance.

In December 1996, she returned for a brief pre-Christmas break, intending to move again to her husband and son in Paris for the festive celebrations. She by no means made it.

Sophie’s physique, battered nearly past recognition, was found mendacity face-up within the grass verge of a lane, 100 yards from the home she beloved in Toormore, a tiny outcrop, six miles West of the closest city, Schull.

She was clothed in white pyjamas and was carrying rapidly laced-up boots. 

A big rock and concrete block, each spattered along with her blood, had been used to strike her repeatedly on the pinnacle and physique. 

The coroner’s report famous she had 50 separate accidents.