Ian Bailey to ask to be tried in Ireland as he believes he has 'no chance of a fair trial' in France
Ian Bailey has said he does not subjectively believe he has any chance of a fair trial if he is extradited to France.
Speaking to Philip Boucher Hayes on RTE radio Mr Bailey said he intends to ask the Irish authorities to charge him for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, so he may have a fair trial.
In fact, despite the current media reports that state France is set to charge Mr Bailey with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, he, or his legal team, have not been contacted by Irish or French authorities in relation to his supposed arrest.
He also said that he and his legal team were unaware of any new evidence that the French police may have.
Speaking about living under suspicion for the past 20 years, Mr Bailey said it has been a “20 year nightmare” and complete “torture.”
Mr Boucher Hayes went through the arrest warrent that was previously issued to Mr Bailey who then explained each piece of evidence against him including, he claims, several pieces of fiction.
For example, the report states that he stopped outside Sophie du Plantier's house late on the night of the murder and said he had a premonition that something bad would happen in that house.
Mr Bailey said this was a fabrication of the truth, he said he had stopped outside the house, but did not know it was her house and could not even see the house in the dark.
Mr Bailey said he was naive and over honest with the authorities because he never considered himself to be a suspect.
The journalist went to say he is effectively a prisoner in Ireland as there is a live European arrest warrent open under his name, so if he leaves the country he is likely to be arrested.
Mr Bailey said he has total sympathy for the plight of the du Plantier family who he said have been given a “false narrative.”
“They have been led to believe that I am somehow connected to Madame du Plantier and it is simply not the case.”
