Latest news with #IanBailey
Extra.ie
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Ian Bailey's partner reveals his ashes 'weren't even scattered where he wanted'
The former partner of Ian Bailey has revealed the late murder suspect's ashes 'weren't even scattered where he wanted' during a much-publicised memorial ceremony on Friday. Bailey's ashes were spread on the waters off west Cork during a memorial event organised by his sister, Kay Reynolds, at Skeaghanore pier near Ballydehob, overlooking Roaringwater Bay. But Jules Thomas – the Welsh-born artist who was in a relationship with Bailey for decades before ordering him to move out of her house two and a half years before he died – told 'Ian always said that after his death he wanted his ashes scattered into Dunmanus Bay, but I heard they put them into Roaringwater [Bay] – that's on the other side instead. Jules Thomas and Ian Bailey. Pic: Collins Courts 'He always said he wanted them to be scattered into Dunmanus – that's between Mizen and Sheep's Head with Durrus in the corner. He was very specific. Instead, he apparently ended up someplace different.' She added: 'Poor b***er; he wasn't even scattered where he wanted to be in the end.' Ms Thomas was not invited to the private final farewell for her former partner, which was attended by around 30 family members, friends and supporters on Friday, which included filmmaker Jim Sheridan and Bailey's long-time solicitor Frank Buttimer. Jules Thomas. Pic: Collins Courts But she said she probably would not have attended the ceremony even if she had been invited. Ms Thomas explained: 'I was in Dublin seeing my legal team about my High Court case against Netflix and on other business and only got back to Cork late on Thursday night. I was exhausted and probably couldn't have made it even if I had planned to be there.' She described her non-invitation as a way of 'airbrushing me out'. The artist said: 'I supported him through thick and thin for 27 years of emotional hell for both of us. The worst thing that can happen to anyone is to be accused of something like murder, and that is what happened. 'I wasn't going to go anyway; when I threw him out, I finished with Ian and that was that.' Ian Bailey. Pic: Ian Bailey's sister said she did not invite Ms Thomas to Friday's ceremony because she didn't think she would want to attend the event. Ms Reynolds told 'She [Ms Thomas] said he just wasn't in her thoughts, that's what she said, so I didn't think she'd want to come'. However, she paid a warm tribute to her brother's former partner, adding: 'She stuck by him… he wasn't easy, was he? She had been incredible; we know he wasn't easy. And to stand by him all that time was incredible. She certainly had it tough with him.' Meanwhile, Ms Thomas has also revealed she was diagnosed with leukaemia around the time that the controversial Netflix three-part documentary series, Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, came out in 2021. Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Pic: REX/Shutterstock In her ongoing action against the streaming giant, she said the widely seen series turned her into a 'social pariah' and included 'glaring inaccuracies, fabrications and falsehoods'. She also alleges filming was carried out on her property without her permission. Ms Thomas is suing Netflix and its production company, Lightbox Media, for injurious falsehood, infliction of emotional suffering and negligence. The artist also revealed she had known she had leukaemia for more than two years before she told her daughters. Jules Thomas. Pic: Hell's Kitchen/Barbara McCarthy via Sky Studios She said: 'I knew they would be devastated, so I wrote each of them letters I posted at the same time to tell them. I waited over two years because I couldn't bring myself to tell them. I knew they would be so upset. 'I just couldn't give my three beautiful girls that worry and upset, I kept it to myself for as long as I could. Eventually, I decided they should know, so I wrote letters at the same time to each of my daughters to tell them.' Around 250 people in Ireland are diagnosed with the same form of incurable, slow-growing blood cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, every year. Earlier this week, Ms Thomas travelled to Dublin to discuss the next phase of her High Court case with her legal team, which includes the high-profile solicitor Gerald Kean and leading senior counsel Michael O'Higgins. Ms Thomas said: 'I went utterly downhill watching the Netflix documentary., my brain was in total turmoil, I couldn't sleep, all my energy sapped away. What it showed, watched by millions of viewers around the world, was a shoddy home, nothing like mine, a rundown, shabby place, not clean.' She said this followed 'all the worry and isolation' following the murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, and the emergence of her former partner as the chief suspect in the unsolved killing. Ms Thomas said that, on top of 'the court cases with constant media attention for decades', she also had to endure 'the emotional burnout of living with a man like Ian Bailey. No wonder I was getting shingles due to exhaustion with all my defences constantly down.' She went to her GP in the summer of 2021, who prescribed anti-viral medication for shingles. Ms Thomas added: 'I was utterly exhausted all the time. My doctor referred me to a consultant in Cork who carried out tests, and the results came back confirming I had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. 'It took a while for that to register the news. The specialist asked if I had been under a lot of stress, and I said: 'Oh yes, unbelievable stress and for years and years.' To be honest, it didn't surprise me that my body was caving in from it all.' Ms Thomas said she has not had blood transfusions and is treating her illness mainly with homoeopathy, which stimulates healing responses in affected parts of her body. 'It's slowly creeping up, but I am feeling okay at the moment,' she added. 'There's no place for stop in my character; I have to keep cracking on, and I hardly ever sit down. But when my immune system is down and I get the signal I am doing too much, I try to take it easy.' She also believes the stress of the unsolved murder contributed to her former partner's death. Ian Bailey died in January 2024 at the age of 66 after suffering several heart attacks that Ms Thomas says were brought on by his 'chronically unhealthy lifestyle'. She told 'He drank himself to death and took drugs to block out the hell he was living after denying all those years that he committed the murder and was not believed.' Ms Thomas has always protested that her partner of 30 years was innocent of the country's most notorious unsolved murder. This is despite the fact that Bailey had been violent to her on several occasions; Ms Thomas was hospitalised on two occasions after drink-fuelled beatings, which she described as 'lashing out, which he deeply regretted afterwards'. She said Bailey was consumed by the need to prove his innocence in the unsolved murder, which she says she knew 'he had nothing to do with'. Ms Thomas said: 'They had not a shred of evidence that we had anything to do with that terrible murder.' Whilst the private get-together to say goodbye to Ian Bailey 18 months after his death, involving poetry, music and some prayers, took place on Friday, Ms Thomas returned to her remote cottage and extensive gardens outside Schull here she busily potted plants to sell along with her evocative west Cork oils and prints at Schull market today. Despite her leukaemia diagnosis, the artist says she feels well and is full of hope her name will eventually be cleared 'once and for all'. She added: 'I just want the truth, and nothing more, after so many falsehoods to come out at last. I want that above all. 'I am not thinking much about my illness; something has to get you in the end. Our luck runs out at some time, and our bodies give up, and I think it's best not to dwell on that and keep going.'
Irish Independent
21 hours ago
- Irish Independent
‘He was a great big brother' – Ian Bailey's sister pays tribute as his ashes are scattered off a secluded pier in West Cork
Stories shared by friends and family at memorial in west Cork a long way from media portrayal of suspect Today at 21:30 As Ian Bailey's loved ones scattered his ashes from a secluded pier in west Cork on Friday, filmmaker Jim Sheridan and investigative journalist Donal MacIntyre were there to record the final goodbye. Bailey's 'deepest wish' before he died was to clear his name of any involvement in the murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier and some are still determined to do so now, 17 months after his death.
Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Jules Thomas: How my leukaemia was caused by Sophie Toscan du Plantier stress
For over two years Jules Thomas, the former partner of the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder suspect Ian Bailey, spared her three daughters from the devastating truth that she is suffering from leukaemia. 'I just couldn't bring myself to tell them, to give my girls that worry and upset. I kept it to myself for as long as I could,' she told The Sunday Times. 'Eventually I decided they should know, so I wrote letters at the same time to each of my daughters to tell them.' Thomas now counts herself among the 220 people in Ireland every year who are diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, an incurable, slowly progressing blood cancer. The Welsh-born landscape artist has been embroiled in a legal battle against Netflix for several years. In a long-running High Court case, Thomas claims she was defamed in the three-part documentary series Sophie: A Murder in West Cork. She has alleged that the show, screened in 2021, contains a number of inaccuracies and she also claims in her legal action against the streaming giant and the production company Lightbox Media for injurious falsehood and infliction of emotional suffering. All of these claims are, however, understood to be denied by Netflix and Light Box Media, which are fully defending the action.
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Extra.ie
Ian Bailey's final farewell as family scatter ashes at Cork pier ceremony
Ian Bailey, self-confessed chief suspect in the unsolved Sophie Toscan Du Plantier murder case, spent most of his later years fighting one legal battle after another. So it was a fitting end of sorts when the last person to bid him a final farewell was a descendant of the legendary West of Ireland warrior and Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley. George O'Malley made a 640km round trip journey from his home in Newport, Co. Mayo, to be at the scattering of the ashes ceremony yesterday organised by the late journalist's family. Ian Bailey. Pic: Tom Honan He was the last one to step forward to help sprinkle some ashes, and George's parting words to his friend of 15 years were: 'May your spirit fly over here forever.' And with that the remains of the man – who was questioned twice by gardaí in connection with the brutal murder of the French filmmaker and convicted in absentia of killing the mother of one by a French court – flew over a wild honeysuckle hedge to disappear forever from sight. The former journalist died in January 2024 as he walked from his home in Bantry, Co. Cork, to his car which was parked on a nearby street. He collapsed on the street after suffering a fatal heart attack. Ian Bailey. Pic: Yesterday his sister Kay Reynolds explained his relatives decided to scatter his ashes on Midsummer's Eve so they could also commemorate her brother's arrival in Ireland. She told a small group of about 40 friends and journalists gathered on a pier outside the pretty West Cork village of Ballydehob: 'Ian loved Ireland with a passion and it is over 30 years ago tomorrow that he arrived in Ireland. 'Except for one situation, he told me the international arrest warrant, which meant he couldn't leave the country, didn't bother him that much as there was nowhere else he'd rather be. Ian Bailey. Pic: 'The exception to this was not being able to come and see our failing mother Brenda in England and attend her subsequent funeral. He felt the cruelty of this very, very much. 'There were many blows over the years. However, I think the biggest of all was his split from Jules, which blindsided him and left him hopeless. 'Jules had loyally supported him for over 30 years but I personally believe it [the split] was the real start of his demise.' Among those who attended yesterday's ceremony were filmmaker Jim Sheridan, documentary maker Donal MacIntyre, and Sam Bungey, who co-produced a podcast about the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier. Others included Ian Bailey's legal team of solicitor Frank Buttimer and barristers Jim Duggan and Tom Creed. Ms Toscan Du Plantier's battered body was found close to her isolated holiday home in West Cork on December 23, 1996. No one has ever been charged or convicted in Ireland for the death of the 39-year-old filmmaker. Paying tribute to Sophie and her heartbroken family yesterday Bailey's sister Kay said: 'I would just ask you to think of Sophie and her family for a moment. I hope they get true justice and some form of peace.' She then added: 'A deep regret, held I'm sure by you here today as well, is that his name wasn't cleared in his lifetime. This is so sad. Ian may you rest in peace.' Although Bailey was convicted of her murder in his absence by a French court in 2019, he died without ever admitting guilt. He was questioned twice by gardaí about her death but was never put on trial here. The Irish courts repeatedly refused requests from the French authorities seeking Bailey's extradition.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Ian Bailey's ‘final goodbye' with ashes scattered at Cork pier as family say Sophie murder accusation ‘took toll on him'
THE family of Ian Bailey have scattered his ashes in the sea off west Cork. Bailey — the chief suspect in the 1996 5 Ian Bailey died of a heart attack in January 2024 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 5 Ian's sister Kay scattered his ashes at Skeaghanore Pier Credit: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision 5 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered in Ireland in 1996 Credit: Copyright remains with handout provider The His grieving sister Kay Reynolds arranged a private funeral for the journalist after he dropped dead on a Bantry street last year. Bailey was cremated and Kay initially brought his ashes back to Kay said: 'He absolutely loved west READ MORE IN IAN BAILEY 'It is very appropriate that this is where we spread his ashes. It is something he wanted.' Opening up about his passing, she recalled: 'He had been quite fit until the last couple of years. 'It finally got to him. He was not taking care of himself, but it was all to do with the pressure. 'It had been relentless for almost 30 years. It took its toll on him. Most read in The Irish Sun 'There were times he did not help himself. I think if he had kept quiet it would have been better, but that was not Ian's style. He had nothing to hide and he would not hide. He confronted his challengers face on. ' Ian Bailey's final post revealed as he thanks fans for the 'most successful year' days before dying aged 66 'I don't think that helped.' 'DOWNFALL' Kay told 96FM producer Paul Byrne, who was one of a few invited guests attending the final ceremony: 'As a family, we never thought that he had done this. 'That was Ian's style of journalism. He thought outside the box. 'I think that was what happened there and became his downfall. She said she Kay insisted: 'From the moment he told us, he phoned us to let us know we would start to see things in the paper about him, we never doubted him — that he had not been involved in this.' Kay also remembered Sophie, who was TIMELINE OF SOPHIE CASE December 23, 1996: Sophie's battered body, still in night clothes, is found outside her holiday home near Schull, west Cork, by a neighbour. February 10, 1997: Ian Bailey is arrested at his home for the murder but is later released. April 17, 1997: Inquest hears Sophie died from multiple injuries, including laceration of the brain and skull fracture, caused by a blunt instrument. January 27, 1998: Ian Bailey is arrested and quizzed for a second time, but is again released without charge. January 2002: A review is ordered into the murder investigation after a highly critical report is written by a solicitor. June 2008: A French magistrate orders the exhumation of Sophie's body for a post-mortem and forensic examination. July 2008: An inquiry into the handling of the murder probe recommends no prosecution. June to October 2009: French authorities travel to West Cork to view the crime scene and meet Irish investigators. Two Garda detectives travel to February 19, 2010: A French judge issues a European Arrest Warrant. April 23, 2010: March 18, 2011: High Court orders Bailey to surrender to European arrest warrant but he appeals to Supreme Court. March 1, 2012: The Supreme Court rules in Bailey's favour in his appeal against extradition. May 31, 2019: Bailey is found guilty of Sophie's murder in his absence in France. He is sentenced to 25 years in June 21, 2019: French authorities issue a third October 12, 2020: High Court rules against Bailey being extradited. Later, State decides not to appeal. It ends attempts to extradite Bailey. She said: 'This is not to forget that a very young mother was brutally murdered. 'I feel so sorry for the family because of the misguided belief that Ian committed the murder. They have just had so many years of torture.' Kay added: 'This is a final goodbye. And it's just doing the right thing by Ian and all of the support that he's had.' 5 The house where Sophie Toscan du Plantier stayed in Cork Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 5 Kay initially brought his ashes back to Britain Credit: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision
