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The High Court has ruled that Ian Bailey cannot be extradited to France to serve a 25-year prison sentence imposed by a French court for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in West Cork 24 years ago.
Judge Paul Burns delivered his sentence this afternoon in the High Court of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin, ruling that last year Mr Bailey could not be handed over to France with a European arrest warrant.
The French authorities issued the European arrest warrant against Mr Bailey (63), an English national, in June 2019 following his conviction in the Paris court on May 31, 2019 for the murder of Mrs Toscan du Plantier.
The three judges of the Paris Cour d’Assises found Mr. Bailey guilty in absentia of the voluntary manslaughter of Ms. Toscan du Plantier (39) at her isolated holiday home at Toormore near Schull in Co Cork on 23 December 1996.
Judge Frederique Aline handed down a 25-year prison sentence to Mr. Bailey, who was not legally represented in the Paris trial, for “the extreme gravity” of the murder of the French film producer and mother of one.
On Monday, before delivering his 70-minute sentence, Judge Paul Burns said he would simply pronounce the sentence and defer making a formal order at the foot of the sentence for two weeks to allow the parties to file an appeal.
Mr. Bailey is in custody on continuous bail to appear on October 27, but a note is required on that date. Judge Burns will issue his formal order and the state may request permission to appeal.
Gardaí detained him twice for questioning him about the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier, whose body was found beaten up near the entrance to her holiday home.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was found murdered in West Cork in 1996.
However, he was never charged with the murder and the DPP ruled in a 2001 analysis of the garda file against Mr. Bailey that there was insufficient evidence to warrant prosecution and ordered that Mr. Bailey should not be charged.
Mr. Bailey, who lives in Prairie, Liscaha, Schull with his partner, Jules Thomas, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the Toscan du Plantier murder and denied having made any confessions in connection with her death.
Bailey showed little emotion when Judge Burns delivered his sentence, his face hidden by an Afghan-style scarf that he was using as a face mask in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines for people attending court hearings.
Mr. Bailey had previously been in custody on continuous bail since Friday, July 17.
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