Martin's Deep Shame Over Failure To Convict Sophie Murderer

Micheál Martin has caused a stir after he said that the late Ian Bailey should have stood trial before an Irish jury for the murder of the late film maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier at her holiday home in Co. Cork.  

English journalist Bailey was convicted in absentia in France of her murder in 1996. 

The Minister for Foreign Affairs publicly commented on the matter at the launch of the new release Sophie: The Final Verdict by journalist Senan Molony in Dublin.

The Tanaiste has said that the murder of the French filmmaker is “seared into our consciousness” and with no conviction for her murder in Ireland would “always be a deep shame for us”.

Bailey fought off all attempts to extradite him to France before his death earlier this year with the case still officially unsolved, having always protested his innocence.

Mr Martin said on Thursday: “The terrible anguish of her family and all who knew her was made much worse by the fact that our system proved incapable of meeting its responsibilities to Sophie.”

“However, there is no doubt that this case continues to give a serious cause for reflection.

“The simple fact is, we failed in our duty to find and convict a bloody murderer, and our system blocked alternative routes when others were not willing to accept our failures.”

In 2020, the High Court rejected a bid by French authorities to extradite Mr. Bailey for the murder in what was a third extradition process in relation to the filmmaker’s death.

Mr Martin says he was left frustrated that no trial happened in Ireland in relation the case:

“When you look at the details of this case and the scale of the evidence, it is very, very hard to understand why this evidence was not put before a jury.”

“It’s hard to understand why the system was so convinced by its interpretation of legal principles that it effectively threw its hands in the air and gave up.”

He added: “The fact that we have absolute independence in our judicial system, that no external pressure can be applied on independent prosecutors and judges is a great strength which we should value.

“And at the same time, we can admit that this system failed Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

“We can ask for a proper review of whether decisions were reasonable which blocked the murder trial or which would have predetermined its outcome.”

Mr Martin also highlighted the rapid processing of people accused of serious crimes in other jurisdictions.

“We could dramatically increase the resources at every level and we would still operate principles and practice which delay justice, often excessively.

“I’m conscious that there is currently a cold case review into Sophie’s murder under way, and I sincerely hope that it brings some clarity to the circumstances around her tragic death and answers some of the questions that her beloved parents, Georges and Marguerite, and her son John Pierre have waited nearly three decades for.

“We need to learn from our failure to deliver justice for Sophie and Tuscan du Plantier.”