As previously said it is unlikely that a conviction/solving of the case will happen now. I saw a that in the U.S. cold cases are only finalized in about 1% of cases.
Nonsense. I've watched New Tricks, the the rate of cases solved is 100%.
True I'm sure we can do much better.
The Maureen Kearney case seems to be more about sheer arrogance than incompetence though. It would be like the Irish judiciary telling Sophie's family: 'Well there is no sign of anyone else's DNA or forensics here so we're chalking this off as a very messy suicide. Au revoir.'
you say theres nothing to place Bailey at the scene at the time of the crime,the truth is there's nothing that places anyone at the scene at the time of the murder so we have to look at other circumstantial evidence that may reveal the killer,For me Baileys version of issues around his involvement contradicts many credible witnesses,while his original statement on his whereabouts was untrue plus his propensity to violence with drink and his own expressions of guilt make me incredulous when posters suggest he has no questions to answer and is not the most likely killer from all potential candiditates mentioned on this thread.
many credible witnesses!....care to name a few?
Yes I'd love to know who these "credible witnesses" are too.....
Not quite true Dublin49.
Both Alfie and Shirley were at the scene..............
Jules for one ,rendered Baileys Alibi untenable,Jules Daughter ,contradicting their timelines ,and the witnesses called during the civil case the judge deemed credible.
You mean the judge who gave witness Leo Bolger a suspended sentence for a major drugs operation instead of the recommended 10 year sentence?
Credible?
I can think of another word beginning with C alright.
Credible if you are easily fooled by a setup.
Oh and if you believe the testimony of Jules and daughter they completely undermine the entire Garda case against Bailey.
Was it the case that no DNA except Sophie's was found at the scene/house. Surely DNA from those expected to leave it was found i.e. neighbours/minders/callers etc. If it was nothing found that would indicate a clean up I'd say.
You appear not to understand the question. We had two people telling us about the discovery of the body and their actions thereafter. Since it's the bar you set for Bailey, where is your golden bullet that completely exonerates them of any knowledge of or involvement in what happened "at the time of the crime"?
I dont think they were checking for DNA back then - as in cells. Blood hair fingerprints yes.
But you raise an interesting point - what fingerprints were found? Fingerprints other than Sophies should have been found all over the gate and property.
The dna was retested a couple of times as the science advanced over the years. The gate, however, never was.
When people talk about the gate being lost, I find it far worse that the gate was apparently "discarded" because it was seen as useless. It could have been tested again like other items from the crime scene, but no.
Having said that, any damning evidence could have been removed when it was first taken to Bantry garda Station where it remained for a number of days before going to forensics.
Do you mean cell DNA or do you mean blood DNA?
In 1996 large samples like blood or hair were needed for DNA analysis.
What I mean is that the actual property / gate / murder weapons were not swept for DNA cells given the technology of the time.
I am not sure if it is practicable to test eg the gate for DNA cells years later but am at the limits of my knowledge there.
I'm not sure tbh I just heard that they retested alot of the original samples.
Eg the dna on sophies boot was properly profiled by the French. An unknown male dna. Problem was, it didn't match IB so as far as I know its still sitting there when it could be an important piece of evidence
Yes they restested the blood samples taken.
Re the unknown male dna what I have not been able to determine is whether unknown male dna means either:
1. Not matched to any provided sample
Or
2. Of such poor quality all that could be determined is that it was male ie not useful for individual identification
Also with dna cell analysis, if thats what was used - it is so sensitive there is possibility of touch transfer contamination unless handled and stored in a sterile manner. I have zero confidence in the keystone cops when it comes to that.
I heard they got a full profile just only tried to match if to IB but I could be wrong. You'd think they'd want to match it wouldn't ya if only to eliminate people like the priest for example
" what fingerprints were found? Fingerprints other than Sophies should have been found all over the gate and property."
What fingerprints would have been found besides Sophies?
Alfie and Shirley's coming and going about their business definitely .
Maybe the doctor and the priest .
Maybe some clumsy Guard.
The postman.
Whoever was doing the fencing around the area.
The housekeeper Josephine Hellen.
Finbarr Hellen and his son came by on the Sunday.
Other than any visitors Alfie and Shirley might have had,
there would be no reason for anyone else that I can think of to pass through that gate.
Unless you can think of anyone else , it's not a big list to have to eliminate.
Surely if the block still exists and was stored properly it could be tested now for cell DNA (skin) or if gloves were used fibres?
John O Donnell. Bantry. Died 2001
Even one would be interesting to hear about
Aaaand it's out there
A speeding blue Ford Fiesta was witnessed on the morning of the 23rd Dec. 1996 heading toward Schull. The car was also being driven in an erratic manner. The witness was a postal delivery driver. I presume daylight had broken. No other details such as the registration number of the Fiesta or a physical description of the driver have ever, to my knowledge, come to light. The speculation was the driver may have been the Bantry Garda John O'Donnell who died in 2001. I think blue Ford Fiesta's were part of the Garda fleet at the time.
The individual out walking who saw Bailey driving a car at speed towards Sophie's that morning was a female friend of Jules who was well known to Bailey. She saluted him as he passed but he did not react or make eye contact.
The police tape is clearly visible on the footage shown in the Netflix documentary, yes.
Thomas appears to be dominated by, intimidated by and terrified of Bailey. Why did she not just leave him years ago rather than tolerate his savage abuse? It's not surprising that she may have told lies on his behalf to provide him with an alibi.
You (mamboozle) take issue with my description of Bailey as a sad, drunken loser and if I consider him of the same level as those drink and drug addicts you see on Dublin's boardwalks. As a character, I would rank him far worse than the very worst of those.
I don't really understand your final point about Shirley. Did she back up Alfie's comment about him being 90% certain he had introduced Bailey to Sophie? DPP's are not infallible.
I hope you've cleaned yourself up after that.
One of the illuminating things for me about this discussion and from watching the Netflix documentary is how many people seem to be driven by a blind unnatural hatred of Ian Bailey. It is what drives a lynch mob mentality, where due process is only paid cursory attention.
I think it must be due to more than domestic abuse because there has never been much sympathy for Jules Thomas.
I can only guess it's because he was a tall handsome Englishman with poetic notions about himself. In short everything some people hate.
While he has been dismissed by many for his poetry, whatever he has it was sufficent to impress no less than John Montague.
'The individual out walking who saw Bailey driving a car at speed towards Sophie's that morning was a female friend of Jules who was well known to Bailey. She saluted him as he passed but he did not react or make eye contact.'
I never heard this before that Bailey was seen driving towards Sophies by a friend of Jules - Can you post a link for where you seen this information. What time was he seen at?
You're trying to reason with someone who says "DPP's are not infallible". It's like dealing with people who believe the bible is literally true and no amount of science will convince them otherwise.
Absolutely bang on, they're appalled by the audacity of the "knowledgeable outsider" who, lacking in "mock modesty", isn't "mock aware" of his place. I'm referring to the historically unchallenged pillars of the community and their "thought followers".
Or..
Instead of a clean up the murder occurred somewhere else nearby and the body was carried to the spot and the blood spattered to show a different tale? She was light and easy to carry by a man or two people.
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