‘No evidence or admission’ Ian Bailey killed Sophie Toscan du Plantier in major recordings & notebooks clue trawl

Gardai have searched late Ian Bailey writings in a bid for clues over the French filmmaker’s murder in 1996
GARDAI have found no evidence Ian Bailey ever admitted to killing Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Cops came up empty after trawling through his private tape recordings, papers and notebooks.

They were all seized following a detailed search of his home after he died in Bantry, Co Cork, in January 21, 2024, from a massive heart attack.

The Englishman was arrested twice over the French filmmaker’s murder on December 23, 1996.

However, he was never charged in Ireland — and always denied any involvement in the killing.

He even defended his innocence in a recorded video message filmed at Bantry Hospital a few months before he died.

A Garda source told The Irish Sun: “We have gone through everything we found in Ian Bailey’s home and so far there is no admission or evidence that he killed Sophie.

“However, that does not mean he didn’t do it. He will continue to be a person of interest until the evidence leads elsewhere.”

Sophie, 39, was found battered to death close to her west Cork holiday home 29 years ago.

A cold case team is three years into reviewing all the evidence from the murder.

Detectives hope new DNA tech will eventually help nail Sophie’s murderer.

Bailey gave investigating officers samples of his DNA years ago.

Sophie’s heartbroken family and son Pierre are adamant former journalist Bailey killed her.

He was found guilty in absentia by a French court in 2019 and sentenced to 25 years’ jail.

But Ireland refused to extradite him, given most of the evidence was based on hearsay and would not have been admissible here.