Courts / Cork / Report

French request for Bailey extradition submissions 'unprecedented'

Date
2020-05-12
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Schull
County
Cork

Summary

In a High Court hearing, French authorities requested to view Ian Bailey's legal submissions regarding his extradition to France for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Bailey faces a 25‑year sentence in France and will contest the extradition at a three‑day hearing scheduled for July 15. His counsel, Ronan Munro, said the submissions are about 40 pages and will be finalised in two weeks. French officials sent letters on March 18 and April 14 requesting the documents, a move Munro described as unprecedented and outside normal statutory procedure. The Minister for Justice will not release the submissions without a court ruling. Bailey, who denies involvement, is remanded on bail and will not attend the next court session. The case follows two prior French extradition attempts that were dismissed in 2012 and 2017. The hearing will address whether the French request is permissible under Irish law. The unnamed 63-year-old was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: French request for Bailey extradition submissions 'unprecedented'. Charges or matters: the French woman's murder in his absence in a Paris court in May 2019. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: However, Mr Munro explained that a request had been received from French authorities to view the submissions from both the State and Mr Bailey ahead of the extradition hearing. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 63-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: the French woman's murder in his absence in a Paris court in May 2019 (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; The three-judge Cour d'Assises in Paris accordingly imposed a 25-year prison sentence on Mr Bailey in his absence.; Ronan Munro SC with Marc Thompson BL, for Mr Bailey, said the legal submissions were very close to finalisation and came to around 40 pages in length.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • High Court
  • The Supreme Court
  • Supreme Court
Secondary Mention
Residence

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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