‘KEEP IT UP’ | 

Ian Bailey thanks ‘number one Twitter troll’ for best ever financial year

“Well done, keep up the abuse.”

Níall Feiritear

Today at 12:03

Ian Bailey has released a video on social media where he thanks his ‘number one troll’ for giving him his best ever financial year.

The TikTok video shows the Cork resident sitting in a car whilst a dog barks in the background.

“Welcome friends, fans and followers, what a lovely day here,” Mr Bailey begins.

“I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has supported me so much during 2023.”

The former journalist highlights his main income streams, before pointing out someone who has been interacting with him on X.

“And it was my most successful year in terms of income from poetry, t-shirts, shout out services, research.

Pause

“Largely due to one individual who has been haranguing me and trolling me on Twitter, an idiot called…well some people call him a*sehole… and I would just like to thank him so much.

“You have really boosted my confidence and accounts. Well done, keep up the abuse.

“It works in the opposite way to the way that you think it would,” Mr Bailey says.

Followers of the self confessed murder suspect in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case were quick to add comments including:

“Killer hat,” and “Delighted to hear you have had a good news story. May 23 be full of them too,” were two comments.

“Yes Ian I hope you have another killer of a year,” wrote another. “This guy was made to be a scapegoat,” wrote one.

“France would love for you to pay them a visit,” wrote another.

The person who is playing the role of ‘troll’ in the online disagreement posted their own tweets in response:

“Bantry’s best known tramp Bailey is in full cry baby mode on fb. Someone call UC Hospital, Ian is either back on the drink or his medications need adjusting – just look at this…he thinks that is coherent and funny. Oh dear.”

“Alexa show me that I have residence inside Ian Bailey’s head?” the user added.

The person running the account states “Send Ian Bailey to France. May he never return to Ireland or the UK,” and has an image of Mrs Toscan du Plantier as their profile picture.

Over the festive period, Bailey wrote:

“Happy Christmas to all my Friends, Fans and Followers…It is 27 years since a terrible crime which I was falsely accused of…27 years on I continue the David v Goliath battle to clear my name…Solas Na Nollagh….Beanachtu Na Feile.”

The 39-year-old French woman was killed outside her holiday home near Toormore, Goleen, County Cork, Ireland, on the night of 23 December 1996.

Mr Bailey was arrested twice by the gardaí, yet no charges were laid as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) found there was insufficient evidence to proceed to trial.

Bailey lost a libel case against six newspapers in 2003. He also lost a wrongful arrest case against the gardaí, Minister for Justice, and Attorney General in 2015.

In 2019, Bailey was convicted of murder by the Cour d’Assises in Paris, and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was tried in absentia in France after winning a legal battle against extradition.

In 2020, Ireland’s High Court ruled that Bailey could not be extradited. The British man has always maintained his innocence in relation to the death of Mrs Du Plantier.