Ian Bailey had recently fallen in love – but died heartbroken as he was stood up on New Year’s Eve

He had secretly become very close to a local woman in west Cork – but she stood him up on what was to be their first public date together on New Year’s Eve

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By

John Kierans

• 12:06, 22 JAN 2024

Ian Bailey had fallen in love in recent months and went to his death a heartbroken man.

He had secretly become very close to a local woman in west Cork – but it is understood she stood him up on what was to be their first public date together on New Year’s Eve.

The woman who had known the eccentric Englishman for years regularly visited him at his Bantry home and especially since he suffered a series of heart attacks last Autumn.

But she was said to be too embarrassed to be seen with him in public because of his past history and since he was still a suspect in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder.

A source claimed they were due to go to a Phil Coulter concert in the area on the last day of the year and he had spent €40 on the ticket. However according to a source the mystery woman rang Bailey to tell him she could not go as she did not want anybody to see them out together.

He got really annoyed and rang a friend in anger complaining that the whole Sophie saga had absolutely destroyed his life and that he would never be able to move on.

He fumed; “I can’t even have a relationship with someone I really like and love because they are too afraid and embarrassed of being seen with me in public and the reaction it will spark locally.”

The friend he called said the harsh reality of the grim situation he was in was really starting to hit home. Bailey had also told a number of other people he knew that he didn’t think he’d be alive for much longer.

The friend stated; “He knew he was seriously ill with his heart condition and he was putting a brave face on it. However, for all his joking about his illness he did not want to die.

“He also knew the cops in the cold case investigation were moving against him and there was a strong chance he could be arrested and charged.”He told me he was now at the stage that he would rather face a trial if he had to in Ireland because it was the only way he could actually clear his name.

“If he was found not guilty by a jury of his peers then that was the end of it and he could move on with his life.”

Only last week Bailey said; “I feel trapped because the Gardai are looking at nobody else but me and the real killer is getting away with it.”

The 66 year old former journalist did a series of interviews with a member of award winning director Jim Sheridan documentary team in the past few months in case he died.

One was actually filmed at his bedside in Bantry Hospital and lasted 50 minutes. The footage is to be used in a new episode of Murder at the Cottage which the Sheridan team is working on.

In it Ian Bailey says; “If I die my conscience is clear I did not kill Sophie.” But he also tells of his deep regret at assaulting his long time lover and live-in partner Jules Thomas.

The couple split three years ago and had only been in touch on a handful of occasions since. She approached him about the current legal action she is taking against Netflix and he provided her with detailed documents that she needed for the case.

Bailey is seen on camera stating that attacking Jules is one of many regrets he had and that it should never have happened. He said he will bring the shame of it to the grave.

Jules had always stood by him and still maintains that he had absolutely nothing to do with Sophie’s murder. Ian Bailey also let it be known to those around him that he wanted to die to be laid to rest in Ireland and his beloved west Cork.

His sister Kay Reynolds is his next of kin and his lawyer Frank Buttimer is in the process of contacting her to organise the funeral arrangements.

It is believed he will be cremated within the next couple days. There is a reluctance to bury him in a grave in case it is desecrated.