The death of Ian Bailey means we will never get the full truth about how Sophie Toscan du Plantier died, according to her uncle. 

Ian Bailey died at the age of 66 yesterday afternoon in Bantry, Co Cork after a suspected heart attack. 

Mr Bailey became the chief suspect in the murder of 39-year-old French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996. 

Ms Toscan du Plantier’s uncle, Jean Pierre Gazeau, said the family “strongly believes” Mr Bailey killed his niece. 

“We are not alone to believe this since Ian Bailey was condemned in absentia,” he told The Hard Shoulder. 

He was convicted of her murder in absentia in France in 2019 and sentenced to 25 years in jail. However, the Irish courts refused to extradite him. 

Mr Gazeau said while the family “expected” Mr Bailey to die soon because of his poor health, it is still “frustrating”. 

“It is frustrating because we will never get the truth from Ian Bailey himself now,” he said. 

“We don’t understand why the DPP at the time didn’t make the right decision – to put Ian Bailey on trial. 

“In a trial, you have a committee, and the people are asking the suspect to explain this contradiction... he never had to explain.” 

During investigations, Mr Bailey gave multiple conflicting reports of his whereabouts the night Ms Toscan du Plantier was killed. 

He also denied knowing the victim, which multiple witnesses from the local area have contradicted. 

Cold case investigation

Gardaí reopened investigations into Ms Toscan du Plantier’s murder in 2022 and reported in December it was “making significant progress”. 

Mr Gazeau said he “absolutely” wishes for the cold case investigation to continue following Mr Bailey’s death. 

“There is a possibility to get material evidence confirming DNA elements in the block that was used to destroy the face of my niece,” he said. 

“Certainly, some people didn’t the truth about Ian Bailey so we strongly hope they will be ready to tell what was going on at that time, the 22nd, 23rd of December, 1996.” 

Death of Ian Bailey

Mr Gazeau said he could not guess exactly what happened on the night of Ms Toscan du Plantier’s murder. 

“We don’t have the full truth,” he said. “We suppose Bailey went to Sophie’s house and wanted to enter. 

“Sophie had to defend herself.” 

Mr Bailey’s body was removed to the morgue at Bantry General Hospital. 

Mr Bailey had been admitted to hospital in September 2023 for a double heart attack. 

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