Ian Bailey's solicitor says there's no way his client will go to France to face a murder charge.
The former journalist was convicted of murdering Sophie Toscan du Plantier in absentia at a French court in 2019.
Speaking yesterday in Dublin, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Mr. Bailey could have a new trial in Paris if he wished.
French President Emmanuel Macron with the Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Government Buildings, 26-08-2021. Image: Julien Behal Photography
He's never been charged in Ireland, and maintains he had nothing to do with the murder in Schull, Co. Cork, back in 1996.
Frank Buttimer, Mr. Bailey's solicitor, claims an Irish investigation file handed over to French investigators wasn't legitimate. Stating
that a French Court decided to convict his client based on 'tainted' evidence.
"The french acted on that tainted evidence, and that is the evidence which eventually was used to secure a conviction of Mr. Bailey, following a so-called criminal justice procedure in France," Frank Buttimer said.
The solicitor said the tragic effects of Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder nearly 25 years ago are ongoing.
A still of Sophie Toscan du Plantier from the Netflix documentary 'Sophie: A Murder in West Cork'. Picture by: Netflix
Mr. Buttimer says it's a 'stain' on Ireland that the person who murdered the French filmmaker in Cork hasn't been brought to justice.
"The human element, and the tragic element are ongoing and quite obvious. It's a tragedy for the family of Madame Toscan du Plantier," the solicitor said, continuing, "The manner on which she was brutally executed remains a stain on everybody, certainly for us in Ireland."
The emerging interest in this case was sparked by two concurrent documentary series released on Sky and Netflix over the summer.
