Latest news with #Re-Creation
Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Ian Baileys ashes to be spread in West Cork
Ian Bailey will have his last request honoured by family and friends this weekend when his ashes are scattered in West Cork. The 67 year old died suddenly from a heart attack in Bantry, West Cork, last year and was cremated just days afterwards. The former poet had been the 'main suspect' in the murder of 'Sophie Toscan du Plantier' for a number of years, but always argued his innocence, saying the accusations 'ruined his life'. Ian Bailey The French woman was brutally murdered outside her holiday home in Schull in December 1996, and as yet nobody has been charged with her killing. This weekend's ceremony for Ian Bailey is expected to be attended by members of his family, and a number of close friends, including film maker Jim Sheridan who has always defended Ian Baileys innocence. Sheridan, probably best known for the Oscar nominated movie My Left Foot, has released a new docudrama entitled Re-Creation, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York recently. Jim Sheridan. Pic: JuanThe drama promises to show new evidence in the unsolved Du Plantier case, which Jim Sheridan described as a 'double injustice' Defending Ian Bailey, he said 'A man who probably was 100% innocent has been castigated through life, he lived a horrible life and died a horrible death and has a horrible name. I don't think he killed her and there's not a shred of evidence to say he did.' Ian Baileys final wish was to have his ashes spread in West Cork where he had lived most of his life and it's expected to be a quiet, strictly private affair.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Sheridan's arguments are very, very wrong,' says Sophie Toscan du Plantier family in shock new claims as film premieres
THE family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier have said an Irish filmmaker's 'arguments' about her murder are 'totally wrong' and 'complete fantasy'. They also fear a new movie inspired by the Advertisement 6 Ian Bailey was arrested over Sophie's murder at her holiday home Credit: AFP 6 Sophie was murdered on December 23, 1996, near Schull in Co Cork Credit: PA 6 Jim Sheridan's new film, Re-Creation, premiered in New York earlier this month Credit: Getty Jim Sheridan's new film, Re-Creation, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York earlier this month. He said that it was not intended to cause any distress to the Toscan du Plantier family, adding: 'I'm not trying to upset them, I'm not trying to do anything to them.' Advertisement But he says there's not a 'shred of evidence' against The 39-year-old had suffered brutal injuries in a gruesome killing that shocked both Ireland and France. The A French court convicted Bailey in absentia in 2019, but he was never extradited over there after the High Advertisement Sophie's uncle Jean-Pierre Gazeau insists he does not want to react to everything Sheridan says. But in an interview with The Irish Sun, Jean-Pierre said on one occasion he spoke to Sheridan, who told him about a 'scenario' and he insisted it was 'complete fantasy.' He explained that the problem with Sheridan's movie is that it will be watched by many people not aware of the evidence against Bailey. Jean-Pierre told us: 'Many people are going to listen to him, agree with him, but without any deep knowledge of the investigation file. 'A LOT OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE' 'There was a very high level of circumstantial evidence against Bailey. There is no direct proof like DNA, but there is a lot of circumstantial evidence. Advertisement 'I think, to some extent, we cannot at all agree with the current behaviour of Jim Sheridan.' Two investigations remain ongoing in Ireland, one by a local team of Jean-Pierre went on: 'Jim Sheridan has his own opinion. Of course, we completely disagree. We disagree about the fact he's made a movie while there are still investigations continuing in Ireland. 'There are two teams, you know, and they are really doing a lot of work. So I think the most reasonable attitude would be to wait. 'We heard arguments given by Sheridan many times, which are wrong, totally wrong.' Advertisement Jean-Pierre pointed towards the interviewing of Sophie's estranged husband Daniel and also that a witness in the case, Marie Farrell, had not been called over for the French proceedings. Ms Farrell claimed that she saw Bailey at Kealfadda Bridge near the murder scene on the night in question. But she later retracted statements given to gardai. 'IT'S NOT TRUE' Jean-Pierre added: 'When Jim Sheridan says that Daniel Toscan du Plantier was never interviewed by the Gardai, it's not true. 'He went to Ireland to be interviewed by the Gardai in 1998, so it's completely wrong. 'Another example is when he says that during the French trial, the French justice had to invite Marie Farrell to give her statement. It was the role of the defence to invite her as a witness. So it's completely wrong.' Advertisement Jean-Pierre explained that, to 'some extent', the question of who killed Sophie was solved in 2019 at the French trial. But he insists it was the 'responsibility' of Bailey himself and Irish authorities to extradite him to defend himself in fresh proceedings. He said: 'If Bailey had been expelled to come to France, he would have had the right of a new trial with a full defence.' Sheridan said the new movie, which stars Aidan Gillen and Colm Meaney, will reveal new info about Sophie's death. 6 Sophie's uncle Jean-Pierre Gazeau insists he does not want to react to everything Sheridan says Credit: PA Advertisement 6 Sheridan said the new movie, which stars Aidan Gillen and Colm Meaney, will reveal new info about Sophie's death Credit: PR Handout image 6 Sophie was murdered at the house in 1996 Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
Irish Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ian Bailey's ex-partner shares she is battling 'incurable illness'
The ex-partner of Ian Bailey has revealed she is battling an 'incurable illness' and says she would like to go to scatter his ashes with his sisters 'to say goodbye'. Jules Thomas was in a relationship with Mr Bailey – who was accused of killing French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier on December 23, 1996 – for more than 30 years before splitting with him in 2021. She revealed she has been battling an 'incurable illness' since 2021, which she said she was diagnosed with soon after Netflix released its 'biased' and 'disgusting' documentary, Sophie: A Murder in West Cork. The Welsh-born artist told us the stress of the unsolved murder case had taken a serious toll on her body. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, she revealed: 'My consultant asked, 'were you under much stress?' I said, 'unbelievable stress.' 'It's not public knowledge but my daughters know. It was an unbelievable amount of stress. I began to feel unwell around the time the Netflix documentary came out. My immune system became very low. I was picking up every cold and flu.' She credits daily floor exercises she learned during her modern dance classes in boarding school to keep her body flexible and also gardening daily. Ms Thomas admitted: 'I'm feeling fine. I tire easily. I've a big garden. I do it on my own. I've an acre of grass to cut, I've about 10,000 plants in pots. I've a big front garden full of veg. There are ponds to clean.' In 1996, the bludgeoned body of Ms Toscan du Plantier was found outside her home in a remote part of West Cork. Mr Bailey was accused of her murder but was never charged with her killing. Ms Thomas believes she should never have been subjected to such stress over the murder, which she adamantly denies having any involvement in or knowledge of. She also backed Oscar-nominated director Jim Sheridan's claim in his new movie, Re-Creation, that Gardaí never had a 'shred of evidence' on Mr Bailey, saying authorities wrongfully arrested the pair. Starring Colm Meaney, Aidan Gilles and Vicky Krieps, Re-Creation – which premiered last week at the Tribeca Film Festival – imagines what could have unfolded if the unresolved murder had gone before a jury in Ireland. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast on Tuesday, Mr Sheridan said: 'A man who probably was 100% innocent has been castigated through life; he lived a horrible life and died a horrible death and has a horrible name. 'I don't think he killed her, and there's not a shred of evidence to say he did.' He was on two occasions detained by Gardaí for questioning in relation to the murder but was never charged. Mr Bailey – who always denied any involvement in her murder – was convicted in absentia after a trial in France in 2015. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Ms Thomas said of the case: 'I should never have been subjected to that level of stress, when there was never a shred of evidence. There were two wrongful arrests. 'They had not a shred of evidence that we had anything to do with that woman. I never saw her, I never knew her. I knew of her from the people in the area. 'We knew of her but that was only because Ian worked up with [one of]the neighbours. It's a very remote track. You wouldn't know anyone unless you lived up there.' The unsolved murder was subject to many documentaries, including Netflix's Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, which aired in 2021. Earlier this year, Ms Thomas revealed she was suing Netflix and production company Lightbox Media over their 2021 documentary. She alleges filming for the production took place at her home without her permission, while also alleging that it contains falsehoods and made her a social pariah in the community she lives in West Cork. Both parties, represented by Matheson, are fully defending the claims in the case. Speaking about the Netflix documentary, Ms Thomas fumed to the Sunday Mirror: 'That shocking documentary they did was so biased. I thought it was disgusting.' Earlier this year, it was revealed Mr Bailey's sister, Kay Reynolds, would scatter her dead brother's ashes in a place he loved in West Cork. Ms Thomas also said she would've gone along with his sister to help scatter his ashes to say goodbye to the late UK journalist. And while Ms Reynolds hasn't contacted her, she said: 'She wants to keep it low key as possible.. but I would go and say goodbye.' Ms Thomas said Mr Bailey drank and took drugs to 'block out the hell he was living' after being accused of the murder. In January 2024, Mr Bailey collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack aged 66. She added: 'He had a big group of friends in Bantry. He apparently resorted to cocaine in the end because the drink wasn't doing anything. 'He needed to block out the hell he was living with so that is what he resorted to apparently.' Speaking about her own relationship with him, the 75-year-old said she couldn't live with him anymore after he would incessantly talk about the case all day. She said: 'It was ghastly what he went through but I couldn't live with him anymore. 'He never shut up about it, he went on and on and on, morning, noon and night. I couldn't sleep then. 'Before going to bed, he'd be on about, 'Oh the French are coming to get me in the middle of the night'. It went on and on and on. It was a nightmare.' It emerged Mr Bailey had been 'seriously violent' towards his Welsh-born artist girlfriend three times, which saw her also take out a protection order against him. Ms Thomas said she would regularly be stared at by people in the Schull Market on Sundays where she would sell her paintings. She said the case hindered her from earning a decent living as people were afraid to approach her. She added: 'I think it put an awful lot of people near me because they believed what the guards were saying. 'I got horrible stares at the market for years from people from Dublin or wherever in the country. The locals were lovely.'
Irish Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Director Jim Sheridan says there wasn't a 'shred of evidence' against Ian Bailey
Oscar nominated film director Jim Sheridan has said he believes Ian Bailey was 'probably innocent' of the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier. The French filmmaker was bludgeoned to death outside her holiday home in Toormore on the outskirts of Schull in West Cork on December 23, 1996. Mr Bailey – who always denied the killing of the mother – remained as the key suspect into her horrific death, but was never charged by Gardai, however he was convicted of murder in absentia in a French court in 2019. My Left Foot director, Jim Sheridan, has released a new docudrama, Re-Creation, which premiered in the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in recent days. It promises to bring new evidence to light about Ms Toscan du Plantier's death in West Cork in 1996. Mr Sheridan said he believes there is "not a shred of evidence" that Mr Bailey – who died in January 2024 - killed Mrs Toscan du Plantier. On Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Sheridan said he believes the case is a "double injustice". 'I feel Sophie's murderer has never been found, her death has never been avenged,' he said. 'A man who probably was 100% innocent has been castigated through life; he lived a horrible life and died a horrible death and has a horrible name. I don't think he killed her and there's not a shred of evidence to say he did.' Mr Bailey was convicted in absentia after a trial in France in 2015. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, officials in France were unable to extradite him to Paris to serve the sentence handed down by the courts. Mr Sheridan said that Mr Bailey's conviction in a French court was a 'farce'. When asked about the reaction of the Toscan du Plantier family, Mr Sheridan said that 'of course' he knew he risked upsetting them when he made the film. 'You can't say because you're upset that you can ruin another man's life,' he said. 'There's no evidence.' He continued that the family of Mr Bailey have also suffered over the years. 'I'm sure Ian Bailey's sister was upset that there was nobody at his funeral and that he had to die that ignominious way,' he said. 'I'm sure she's upset.' During a defamation trial in Dublin in 2014, Mr Bailey admitted that he had been "seriously violent" towards his partner on three occasions. When asked about Mr Bailey's history of violence, Mr Sheridan described it as 'not good'. Also on the programme, Alain Spilliaert, a lawyer for Ms Toscan du Plantier's family, said he had not seen the film yet but that he has concerns. 'Mr Jean-Pierre Gazeau, the uncle of Sophie and President of the Association, raised the issue of questionable ethics,' he said. 'We feel that it is not relevant to show a fictional movie at this point of time of the criminal investigation. 'This is such a large, sensitive case in Ireland… and it's not finished.' Mr Spilliaert added that it would have been better to wait until the investigation finishes before any drama about the case is released.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
'New Sophie film may not solve murder but it will get people talking again'
The shocking killing of French beauty Sophie Toscan du Plantier 29 years ago is the unsolved murder that won't go away. The whole country wants to know did eccentric English journalist Ian Bailey, who lived in the west Cork area, brutally take her life or is the killer still out there roaming the countryside here or in France, free as a bird. The truth is after all these years, nobody really knows. Ian Bailey died from a sudden heart attack 18 months ago and went to his grave proclaiming his innocence. So far there has never been any hard evidence such as DNA produced to tie him to the murder and the finger of blame against him is largely based on circumstantial evidence contrived with hearsay. Sophie's heartbroken family are convinced Bailey is the man and that the verdict of a dodgy French court in 2019 which found him guilty of the young mother's murder in absentia, proved that he did it. The problem is a star witness in the whole saga, former Schull postmistress Marie Farrell was never called to give evidence at the French show trial. She initially put Bailey in the frame by telling Gardai she saw him washing blood off his boots at Kealfadda Bridge, not far from the murder scene on the night she died. But years later, she retracted her statement and admitted she lied. A large amount of the evidence given in the French proceedings was hearsay and would never have been admitted in an Irish court of law. For whatever reason, Sophie's family will not listen to any suggestions that someone else aside from Ian Bailey, might have killed her. Now they are annoyed with the respected filmmaker Jim Sheridan, whose new movie on the story, Re-Creation opened in New York last Sunday night and will be screened publicly over the coming weeks. Based in a courtroom setting, the film focuses on what would have happened if an Irish jury deliberated on the case and presents all the current facts known about the murder. It has an all-star Irish cast including Colm Meaney and Aidan Gillen. Sheridan also claims there is some new evidence. Sophie's family are extremely critical of the release of the movie at this moment in time when there are still two parallel Garda investigations into the horrendous crime ongoing. The cops are also working with the FBI and new technology to try and identify some old blood samples taken from the murder scene. Sophie's uncle Jean-Pierre Gazeau said the release of the film is "ethically questionable". While the family fully acknowledge Jim Sheridan's reputation as a gifted and accomplished filmmaker, they regret "he has chosen to apply his talent to a project based on questionable evidence". He also said Bailey is still a person of interest in the case to the Gardai. He fumed: "In particular we await the results of new DNA analysis. We believe it is ethically questionable to interfere with the ongoing Irish Garda search for truth by producing a fictional narrative based on assumptions that might be biased - or whose impartiality remains unclear." What none of us know except those who have seen the movie is whether Sheridan's jury finds Bailey not guilty. Sheridan, like myself, has always held the view that there was never any hard evidence to convict Bailey, that the Garda investigation was flawed and that they never seriously looked at any other suspects. Irish detectives also never got to interview Sophie's late husband Daniel face-to-face at the time, and did not receive much cooperation from the French police. All they got was a written, signed statement from Daniel handed over to them by the French. I, like Sheridan, spoke to Ian Bailey many times over the years and he always denied the murder. Truth be told, I have no idea if he did it or not. He was a strange fish in many ways but that did not mean he was a killer. I met a lot of bad bastards in my time who wouldn't bat an eyelid about taking another life and I honestly don't believe Bailey had it in him. Sheridan has defended the film and made it clear he is not trying to upset Sophie's family. He said: "I am not trying to upset them, I am not trying to do anything to them, but if there is a possibility that Ian Bailey didn't do it and he is pursued and hounded for 25 years , you can't cure one crime by committing another." He also told of his issues with the French trial. "Marie Farrell was not invited to France to give her evidence. Was that a selective trial? Was that a limited information trial, a media trial, or a real trial? "It is outrageous that Gardai didn't get to interview the husband and other people in France. It's clinically insane. Ian Bailey is a convincing scapegoat for everyone." The new Sophie film is inspired by the infamous 1957 movie, 12 Angry Men. It won't solve the murder but it certainly will put it right back in the public eye and have everyone talking about it again. The Gardai, meanwhile, are ploughing away with their investigation and only time will tell if a new suspect other than Ian Bailey emerges from the fallout.
