Ian Bailey

I have no doubt he was all of those characteristics but I have my doubts about the Gardai losing the gate. Another crucial witness recanting her statement.

If you've ever seen how 'realitty' TV programmes are made you should understand how editorial exercise can present very different views from the same source material.

Even the two documentaries "Sophie: A Murder in West Cork" and "Murder at the Cottage: The Search for Justice for Sophie" present very different views.

Fitting the crime to a suspect does make that suspect seem a good fit for the crime but there is so much uncertainty about the crime itself that it could have occurred anywhere in a 10 or 11 hour window, for any motive and by anybody.

There are far too many loose ends and questionable conduct around the initial investigation to uncritically rely on unproven suspicion and speculation.

Here's a review from a fairly knowledgeable poster on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/DunmanusFiles/comments/1fn5jrn/sophie_iii_relationships_acquaintances_in_ireland/

Did you meet him and talk to him to give you this impression or did a single book cement your opinion of someone you never met?

A hugely confident title to the book! The author has achieved a level of certainty that evaded the entire judicial system! Bravo!

The gate was not lost.

Alledgedly, some copper whipped it to keep his cattle penned in. Alledgedly.

Contrary to some reports suggesting the gate went missing, it was actually disposed of after forensic analysis determined it held no evidential value. The Gardaí have stated that the gate was destroyed by the National Forensic Laboratory for this reason.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) expressed concerns over missing evidence in the case, including the gate. However, the Gardaí clarified that the gate was intentionally discarded due to its lack of relevance to the investigation.

Therefore, the gate is no longer available, having been deliberately destroyed following forensic examination.

The owners did not want the gate back.

Sounds familiar alright (I think)

For a wide range of opinions (and reviews) this thread is brilliant: https://www.reddit.com/r/MurderAtTheCottage/