Ian Bailey back in hospital after suffering third heart attack: ‘I’ve no idea if I’ll make it’

The main suspect in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder became ill at his home and was rushed to nearby Bantry Hospital in west Cork

J

• 13:23, 7 OCT 2023
• Updated13:29, 7 OCT 2023

Ian Bailey is back in hospital after suffering his third heart attack in a month.

It is understood that the main suspect in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder became ill at his home and was rushed to nearby Bantry Hospital in west Cork.

The 66 year old Englishman was stable and said; “I feel seriously unwell and am very weak. I have no idea if I will make it, who knows?” He needs life saving surgery but is too weak to have it at the moment.

The former journalist and poet suffered two heart attacks in the space of a few days early in September.

He was kept in for almost two weeks after also spending time in Cork University Hospital before being sent home to recover. He was told to stop smoking and drinking and doctors were hoping to undertake major heart surgery in three months.

Bailey said he had not been able to work more than ten yards in recent days as his condition deteriorated.

He was arrested twice over Sophie’s horrific murder in Christmas, 1996 but never charged. The DPP ruled there was not enough evidence to prosecute.

Bailey has always vigorously denied any involvement in the murder and that he never knew the beautiful blonde film producer.

Only last week it was disclosed a new witness had come forward who drew a picture for Gardai of scratches that Bailey had on his hands when he met him the day after the murder.

Bailey responded by saying he never denied he had scratches on his arms from cutting a Christmas tree and killing a Christmas turkey at that time.

Sophie’s family have even offered to pay for his hospital treatment in Ireland to keep him alive so that they can get justice. He had been found guilty of the crime in absentia by a French court in 2019 and sentenced to 25 years in jail.

The Irish courts refused to extradite him because most of the so-called evidence in the Paris courtroom was based on hearsay and would never be permitted in an Irish court of law.

Despite his illness Bailey yesterday said he would take the family up on the offer and he will be getting Bantry Hospital to send his 13,000 euros bill to them.

He added; “My life is now on the line and I can tell you I did not kill Sophie.”