26/04/2010

Journalist Held Over Du Plantier Murder

An Irish journalist has been arrested in a bid to extradite him to France for questioning about the still unsolved murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Cork 1996.

Ian Bailey, 53, a former freelance journalist from Schull in West Cork was taken into Garda custody last night on foot of a European Arrest Warrant endorsed earlier by the High Court.

He was due to be brought before the court today for a formal hearing in the attempt to have him extradited.

Ian Bailey has been questioned twice by the Irish Authorities in relation to the murder but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to prosecute.

In early April, the French authorities issued an arrest warrant for Mr Bailey, which was last night followed up by his arrest by Dublin-based officers of the Garda Extradition Section, with the assistance of local gardai.

Mr Bailey was brought in front of the High Cork in Dublin this morning to appeal his extradition.

It is believed the case will take many months as Mr Bailey's solicitor will be challenging the validity of the warrant.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier was the wife of French filmmaker Daniel du Plantier. She was found beaten to death outside her home in Toormore near Schull in Co Cork Ireland on the morning of the 23 December 1996.

Former French President Jacques Chirac was a friend of the couple, giving the case national attention.

(DW/BMcC)

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