Ian Bailey to ask DPP to charge him over murder

Ian Bailey is to write to the Director of Public Prosecutions Claire Loftus asking her to reconsider a decision not to charge him with the murder of French film-maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier in a bid to clear his name as he faces the prospect of a trial in France.

Mr Bailey (59) said he had made the decision to write to the DPP upon learning the French authorities had sanctioned charging him with the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier in West Cork 20 years ago.

“What I will be asking her is for Ireland to find out from the French what is this evidence that they find so convincing . . . and to share that information with the Irish authorities,” Mr Bailey told The Irish Times.

“I want the DPP to reconsider the case against me with a view to trying me in Ireland so that I can clear my name once and for all in relation to this murder which I had absolutely nothing at all to do with.”

Mr Bailey acknowledged that a solicitor in the DPP’s office, Robert Sheehan, had prepared a 44-page assessment of the Garda file in November 2001 in which he was highly critical of aspects of the Garda investigation before concluding the evidence did not warrant a prosecution against Mr Bailey.

Fair trial

“Of course, I am aware of the DPP’s review but I will be asking the current DPP to contact the French about their investigation, look at whatever evidence they submitted and have a trial here because I believe I have no chance of getting a fair trial in France.

“The French clearly believe that they have prepared a file which supports the prosecutorial process over there so let them share that with the Irish authorities – if the evidence passes muster in France, then it should stand up here,” he said.

Guidelines

Mr Bailey’s partner Jules Thomas wrote to the DPP in October 2011 seeking to have him prosecuted in Ireland with a similar view to clearing his name so that they could attempt to lead normal lives at their home in Schull in West Cork.

But the Deputy DPP, Barry Donoghue replied it would not be “appropriate for the Director to institute a prosecution for the reasons put forward by you.

“Under guidelines for prosecutors can prosecute only where he is satisfied that here is sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution.”

Mr Bailey said he had heard nothing from either the French or Irish authorities regarding the issuing of a second European arrest warrant for his extradition to France to answer a charge of voluntary homicide over the death of Ms Toscan du Plantier.