Ian Bailey opposed extradition over Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Ian Bailey opposed extradition to France over the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier at the Irish High Court on 16 July 2020, during the second day of a hearing that began on 15 July.

His lawyers argued that the French authorities had delayed 22 years before trying him in his absence and had lost the right to pursue another extradition request. Bailey had been convicted in absentia in Paris in May 2019 and sentenced to 25 years, but he denied involvement and had not been represented at the trial.

In reply to Bailey’s objections, counsel for the Minister argued that the Criminal Law (Extraterritorial Jurisdiction) Act 2019 could apply to alleged offences committed before 2019 and that there was no vested right not to be surrendered. Legal submissions were due to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns.