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THE SON OF murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier has spoken to RTÉ about the loss of his mother.
Pierre-Louis was 14 when the French film producer was found brutally murdered in West Cork. Speaking to the makers of an RTÉ documentary airing tonight, Sophie’s son said his life was completely altered by the murder.
“It was my last day of being a child. She was everything for me.”
The body of Sophie Toscan du Plantier was found on 23 December in a laneway outside her holiday home near Schull. She had been due to travel back to France to spend Christmas with her husband, Daniel Toscan du Plantier, and her son.
Over 20 years later her family are still looking for answers.
Pierre-Louis told Philip Boucher-Hayes that he believes his family will get justice. He added that he still visits Cork.
“I know for people it’s very difficult to understand why I still come to Ireland, to this house. But Ireland is part of my life and I don’t want to blame Ireland, because she loved this country and I love this country. And it’s so important to for me to bring my children to this house, for them to know their grandmother.”
Pierre-Louis and the family say they will not rest until they have their questions answered.
He added that their desire to see journalist Ian Bailey – who today won an extradition case – before a magistrate in France is unwavering.
I am confident that we will get the answer. I’m not sure if it will be tomorrow, in one month, in one year, in 10 years. But I must get the answer for my grandparents before they die. I’m 35 and I will wait for justice to be done and justice will be done one day, for sure.
Bailey
For his part, Bailey told the documentary crew he wants the Director of Public Prosecutions to try him for murder in Ireland.
“It is in my mind and intention to write a letter to the DPP and I’m going to suggest that the DPP or the authorities in Ireland invite the French prosecutors to travel here to Ireland and to overview, under Irish law, my trial here. I would welcome it.”
French authorities previously sought the surrender of Bailey in 2010 but this application was refused by the Supreme Court in 2012. A second extradition request was transmitted to Ireland last summer, seeking the surrender of Bailey for alleged voluntary homicide.
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Gardaí bungled the case from start to finish.
I don’t blame him for being angry about his mother’s murder and the fact that no one has been brought to justice. But there’s basically zero evidence that Bailey was responsible, no matter how many gardai quietly mumble rumour and innuendo to the press.
I’ve looked into this case so many times, absolutely nothing stands out that would put Mr Bailey at the scene, this man’s life has been haunted for the last 23 years, whispers and rumours no matter where he goes. Poor Sophie had a horrible end and her family deserve justice but I think they’re on the wrong track somehow.
Listening to them both (the son and Bailey) I think they each have been robbed of a fair trial – by contaminated evidence and tainted testimony. Time after time the police force in Ireland has let people down and no matter what the truth – the only certainty is, a killer is free.
I feel sorry for his loss but I also feel sorry for Bailey who’s spend his life with this hanging over him .
Either try the man and find him guilty or not guilty OR let him get on with the rest of his life.
It’s shameful on our authorities that a young foreign lady who was so trustful and in love with this country and lived here alone could be murdered and with plenty of initial evidence available no one brought to justice. How could this case be so unprofessionally handled and no one is found irresponsible and charged themselves.
The reason he hasn’t been tried in Ireland is due to the simple fact of there being insufficient credible evidence of serious criminality. What locus do the French have for trying a foreigner in their courts in respect of a homicide of a person on Irish soil ?
Bailey should say nothing else but he should at least ask for a letter from the DPP that there is currently no intention to prosecute him over the homicide all these years ago. He is entitled to a certificate of “clearance ” given the way the authorities ha e acted over the years.
Pig-ignorant Gardaí ruined the crime scene when they arrived in their muddy boots and practically rearranged the entire house, we’ll never know who murdered STDP as a result.
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