Bailey told witness he did know Toscan du Plantier, court hears

A woman who acted the part of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in a Crimeline reconstruction of her movements before her murder in December 1996 has told the High Court that Ian Bailey approached the film crew and said he knew Ms Toscan du Plantier.

Anne Cahalane said the reconstruction was being filmed on Three Castles Head near Schull in mid-January 1997 when Mr Bailey "bounded" over, said he was a journalist covering the story, knew Ms Toscan du Plantier and had met her on the walk to Three Castles Head.

She was aware at that time of talk in Schull that Mr Bailey was a suspect for the murder and made a statement to gardaí in 2012 about the encounter after a newspaper reported Mr Bailey had said he did not know Ms Toscan du Plantier. She was asked two days ago to give evidence.

New evidence

Tom Creed SC, for Mr Bailey, said the word “know” is subject to different interpretations. Mr Bailey had just learned of this evidence now and had instructed he asked the film crew questions because he had a journalistic interest but never said he knew Ms du Plantier. Ms Cahalane said Mr Bailey had said he knew Ms Toscan du Plantier.

Ms Cahalane’s former partner Peter Wilson said he was at Three Castles Head when Mr Bailey introduced himself, said he was a journalist working on the story, had met Ms Toscan du Plantier on that walk and knew her. The conversation was brief because the crew had been advised by gardaí not to talk about the matter and were previously asked to stop filming in a bar until Mr Bailey left it.

His understanding from what Mr Bailey said was that he knew Ms Toscan du Plantier other than meeting her on the walk. He did not consider what Mr Bailey said as significant until the 2012 newspaper report. He agreed there was a considerable delay by gardaí before taking a statement from him and said he was asked about a week ago to testify.

Mr Creed said Mr Bailey said he never told Mr Wilson that he knew Ms Toscan du Plantier. An extract from the Crimeline reconstruction was played yesterday in the continuing action by Mr Bailey against the Garda Commissioner and State.