Gardaí seize laptop and notes in search of Ian Bailey’s former home in Co. Cork
GARDAÍ conducted a search of the former home of the late Ian Bailey, the chief suspect in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, last night.
A laptop, memory sticks and personal notebooks were among items seized in a search of a Bantry, Co. Cork flat, which lasted several hours, along with items from which a DNA profile could be built.
Bailey was cremated in Bantry on Tuesday, following a private ceremony after he had heart attack and died on Sunday.
The search was carried out by local detectives, assisted by those working with the Serious Crime Review Team, who are conducting a cold case review of the original investigation into the 1996 murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier.
In a statement, a Garda spokesman said: ‘As part of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996, gardaí conducted a search under warrant of a residential property in Bantry, County Cork.
‘As this is an ongoing investigation, An Garda Síochána will not be commenting further at this time.’
Mr Bailey’s solicitor, Frank Buttimer, confirmed to RTÉ News that he was aware of the search.
‘Nothing ceases to continue to surprise me about this case,’ Mr Buttimer said.
Ms Toscan du Plantier was found dead outside her home near Schull, Co. Cork on December 23, 1996.
Bailey, a former journalist, was arrested twice by gardaí investigating her death, but the Director of Public Prosecutions decided no charge was to be brought to him in relation to her murder.
He was convicted, in his absence, of the murder by a French court in 2020 and a 25-year sentence was imposed on him.
However, the High Court in Ireland ruled that he should not be extradited to France to face that jail term.