Ian Bailey lawyer rejects proposal for fresh trial in France

The High Court in Dublin last year rejected an application for Mr Bailey to be extradited to France, where he was convicted in absentia in 2019 and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a French citizen, was killed at Schull, Co Cork in December 1996. Mr Bailey was identified as a suspect by gardaí but never tried or convicted in an Irish court.

Mr Macron, speaking during an official visit to Ireland, said a new trial “could be organised” if Mr Bailey – who he described as “the person condemned” for the murder – agreed to come to France.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor for Mr Bailey, said the proposal was “total nonsense” and there are “no circumstances” in which his client would travel to France.

“If he were to go to France as what President Macron described as ‘the condemned man’, the idea of Mr Bailey going to France to get a fair trial is nonsense,” he said.

He added: “It did not come as a surprise to me to see the French are continuing their pursuit of Mr Bailey which has been relentless over the years.”