Sophie Toscan du Plantier's family have reacted to the death of the main suspect for her murder, Ian Bailey, who has died aged 66.
Ms du Plantier was murdered in Schull, West Cork in 1996, with Bailey being convicted of her murder in 2019 in a Paris court. However, he never had to face his sentence.
Ian Bailey died after he fell ill, and collapsed while walking along Barrack Street in Bantry at lunchtime yesterday. He was treated on the street by several pedestrians, with one of them performing CPR on him until an ambulance arrived.
However, Mr Bailey was pronounced dead, despite the best efforts of Paradmedics, who treated him at the scene.
Reacting to the news of his death, Bertrand Bouniol, Ms du Plantier's brother, has said that it is "the fault of Ireland" that Mr Bailey could was not extradited following his conviction in Paris.
“Mr Bailey was found guilty by French justice but never went to prison because of the Irish justice system", Mr Bouniol said in an interview with the Irish Independent. “For us this is a mistake. It is also the fault of Europe, the EU, which was unable to harmonise its justice system".
“But it is mainly the fault of Ireland, which never came to the end of this crime, despite a large number of investigations, and a lack of will and courage on the part of Irish justice".
He also added, “My sister was brutally murdered and her murderer was able to continue a normal life".
"did not share the same perspective"
Elsewhere, Jean-Pierre Gazeau, Ms du Plantier's uncle had this to say.
“Ian Bailey has passed away. May he rest in peace", he said. “For Sophie’s family, friends, and the French justice system, he was regarded as guilty in connection with Sophie’s murder".
“However, the Irish justice did not share the same perspective", he added.
“This situation is profoundly frustrating for all of us, as it seems we may never learn the truth from Ian Bailey himself".
“Urgently, we appeal for the Irish police to persist in their investigations, with a particular focus on DNA evidence and potential collaborations, aiming to rectify the shortcomings of the Irish judicial authorities in solving the case within Ireland".
Ms du Plantier's parents are to be informed of Mr Bailey's death today. Her father Georges who is 97 years old is currently in hospital. Her mother Marguerite is 93.