Friend of Sophie Toscan du Plantier tells of moment ‘distressed’ Ian Bailey claimed ‘mafia’ killed her

Retired Schull cheesemaker, Bill Hogan, said the Englishman arrived at his door in the first week of January, 1997 and within minutes got very emotional and distressed

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• 15:56, 24 JAN 2024

A friend of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has spoken of the moment Ian Bailey broke down in tears and became ‘distressed’ about her death, admitting he was a suspect – two weeks after the murder.

Retired Schull cheesemaker Bill Hogan said the Englishman arrived at his door in the first week of January, 1997 and within minutes got very emotional and distressed about her horrific death.

He recalled; “Ian came over to talk about the case. He said he believed that Sophie’s husband had organised her murder and that it was a mafia job.

“He said he really should go to France and check it out and I offered to pay to cover his costs. But then got very emotional and said he couldn’t and that he was a suspect in the case. I was totally and utterly shocked. I said you are a journalist not a killer.

“Ian then said that he can’t remember what happened that night and that he would go down for mental in Sligo – a reference to Sligo psychiatric hospital.

“I felt absolutely sick to my stomach and I just wanted to get him out of my house. I knew Sophie very well, she was a good friend of mine. Every time she came to west Cork she would call me up and arrange to come in for cheese and wine.

“She was not only a beautiful woman but she was extremely intelligent and witty. Everybody who ever met her liked her, she was that type of person.

“During our many long chats she never ever mentioned Ian Bailey. She didn’t give a whole lot away about her private life except she once told me that she lived a very complicated life.

“We got on great and I enjoyed her company. I heard that they met once at some festival at Cape Clear but I do not know how true that is.”

Bill said he was very upset by what Bailey had told him. It was the first time he had heard he was a suspect in the case.He stated; “He wanted to give me a big hug before he went home but I couldn’t do it. I knew he wanted to talk more but I wasn’t interested.

‘’After he left I immediately called the Gardai to tell them what he had said. Detectives arrived from Clonakilty and took a statement from me.

“They said they didn’t want to see Ian getting away with the murder by playing a mental health card – and that they wanted to secure a full criminal conviction against him.”

Bill said he was sorry to hear that the prime suspect in the case had passed away last Sunday.

He first met him in Midleton, Cork, at a conference in the early nineties and quickly concluded that Bailey had mental issues.

Mr Hogan added; “Going from the conversation I had with him that infamous night I absolutely believe he did it. I always believed there was something night right in his head.

“I am glad to hear that the Garda cold case review is continuing and I want to see them get to the bottom of this case once and for all. It was shocking the way Sophie was killed, she was a beautiful woman, and we need to get justice for her.”

Mr Hogan, who is in his eighties, recently made a new statement to the cold case team regarding the behaviour of two individuals after the murder. He said the recent TV documentaries on the case had triggered his memory.