West Cork

OMM 0000 · 05-08-2018 6:29pm

TomOnBoard wrote: »

The gate beside which Mme du Plantier was allegedly brutally murdered was allegedly 'covered in blood'. This gate was removed and it has disappeared. Apparently, no-one knows where it is, where it went and/or who removed it.

As in, the police took it for forensics and it disappeared from there, or on day 2 of the investigation or whatever, someone snuck to the murder scene and stole the gate? The latter seems weird as I assume there would have been a gard present at the crime scene 24/7.

RockDesk · 05-08-2018 6:33pm

OMM 0000 wrote: »

As in, the police took it for forensics and it disappeared from there, or on day 2 of the investigation or whatever, someone snuck to the murder scene and stole the gate? The latter seems weird as I assume there would have been a gard present at the crime scene 24/7.

It was taken for evidence as there was blood on it and it's since disappeared, as well as, among other things, Ian Bailey's overcoat. GSOCs recent report mentioned it.

TomOnBoard · 05-08-2018 6:48pm

RockDesk wrote: »

It was taken for evidence as there was blood on it and it's since disappeared, as well as, among other things, Ian Bailey's overcoat. GSOCs recent report mentioned it.

I don't recall seeing or hearing that any evidence was gleaned from the gate or that it was ever subjected to a detailed forensic analysis, but I may have missed it in all the books and reports since.

Suffice it to say that any self-respecting forensic scientist would have gone over that gate with a fine tooth comb. If it was not analysed, its a disgrace. If it was analysed, then if any evidence had been found that implicated either Ian Bailey or Jules Thomas, AGS would have trumpeted that from the rooftops.

The gate and what happened to it is crucial IMHO. Perhaps the French prosecution in absentia will deal with it. I hope they do.

RockDesk · 07-08-2018 1:27pm

TomOnBoard wrote: »

I don't recall seeing or hearing that any evidence was gleaned from the gate or that it was ever subjected to a detailed forensic analysis, but I may have missed it in all the books and reports since.

Maybe it went missing before hand?!!

TomOnBoard · 07-08-2018 1:29pm

Before what?

RockDesk · 07-08-2018 1:30pm

Detailed forensic analysis.

TomOnBoard · 07-08-2018 1:34pm

Could be. That's the problem. We just don't know where an apparently crucial piece of evidence went and/or what was done with it.

07-08-2018 1:41pm

Garda investigation into Garda find Garda to be free of corruption

RockDesk · 07-08-2018 2:09pm

I don't know how the French solicitor can read the GSOC report and think they have a strong case to proceed with.

07-08-2018 2:12pm

In contrast to this article: https://villagemagazine.ie/index.php/2018/07/did-gardai-target-bailey-to-shield-sophies-killer-by-gemma-odoherty/

Dubious source

BarryD2 · 07-08-2018 2:19pm

RockDesk wrote: »

I don't know how the French solicitor can read the GSOC report and think they have a strong case to proceed with.

From what little I know of the French system, I think the case would be conducted with a stronger emphasis on investigation.

Somebody murdered the poor woman at the end of the day. More than likely there are living people who have knowledge and/or valid suspicions.

RockDesk · 07-08-2018 2:20pm

Deleted User wrote: »

In contrast to this article: https://villagemagazine.ie/index.php/2018/07/did-gardai-target-bailey-to-shield-sophies-killer-by-gemma-odoherty/

Dubious source

Interesting article all the same. I'm not sure how much I believe the drug-dealing fears - but I suppose it's not completely outrageous to assume someone has worries about it!

On the face of it, it's not that interesting a case but when you get into it, it's almost beyond belief what went on.

dulpit · 10-08-2018 3:01pm

I liked the podcast. Felt that it was targeted more at people who had never heard of the case, especially how they reveal Ian Bailey in like episode 2/3. Funny hearing the old RTÉ/96FM reports too.

What I take from it is that he probably did do it, and the Gardaí probably did cover up stuff. What I think is that they know it's him but screwed the investigation at the start so much that they tried to pin it on him. So he (Bailey) is probably both guilty and a victim. He seems to enjoy that fact though.

Doubt it'll ever be solved TBH, which is an awful shame.

irishgeo · 10-08-2018 5:12pm

Any word on the new episodes.

It was botched from the start. Leaving the body out in the lashing rain really didn't help.

MOBH · 17-10-2018 2:24pm

A strong rumor that was floating around for awhile and has been shared locally is that it was a local detective that did it and that it was all covered up because of who he was. Said detective is now dead
But who knows! Excellent podcast

Orchids · 29-10-2018 12:19pm

MOBH wrote: »

A strong rumor that was floating around for awhile and has been shared locally is that it was a local detective that did it and that it was all covered up because of who he was. Said detective is now dead
But who knows! Excellent podcast

that’s what the village magazine article linked a few posts above was saying

I’m currently listening to the podcast, really enjoying it

retro:electro · 31-10-2018 7:09pm

Almost finished this. One of the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to. When I heard Bailey was going to be interviewed thoroughout I thought oh here we go, another platform for him to showboat his ego but actually it’s quite a critical representation of him. The real Ian manages to expose himself throughout the episodes without the hosts having to do much poking and prodding, and it’s not flattering.
Some parts you’d wonder if you’re listening to a Pat Shortt skit. Absolutely farcicial how this was managed from every side.
Ian definitely relishes his role in all of this. I get major Michael Peterson vibes from him.

Orchids · 31-10-2018 7:52pm

I finished it today, really enjoyed it, wonder will it ever be solved, so sad for Sophie’s family

Lawlesz · 02-11-2018 2:40pm

Listened to this during the week. I thought it was very well put together, they did a great job of tracking down pretty much anyone to do with the case. It was pretty impressive they got the detective and even Fiona on to talk.

I was familiar with the case beforehand without knowing all the ins and outs. Probably thought Bailey was innocent and had been hounded and persecuted by the media from what I had seen and read.

After this, while still not convinced, my opinion has changed and I'd be more inclined to think he's guilty. After the mess the gards made of it, they were never going to recover enough evidence to convict anybody. He came across as very strange though, and definitely revels in the attention he gets from it. Comes across as almost getting a kick out of it all, I found it odd that he still goes to the market in a town where he is clearly not wanted, and persists in wearing shades no matter the weather. Seems like he's trying to creep people out and provoke a reaction, so he can be the victim again.

Another thing that stood out was when he said how the gards had never interviewed someone like him before and when pressed on what he meant, he said something like "they'd never met someone as intelligent as me".

I thought the wife came across as very naive and gullible, and backed up everything he said no matter how outlandish. How can you swipe someone away whilst driving and somehow tear their lip from their gum!

All in all though, a well researched series, no real answers from it but I suspect there will be more episodes in the future. Hopefully they manage to resolve it once and for all for the family, to give them some closure.

I found it very poignant in, I think the final episode, where Sophies son goes to see the barman Billy, who was the last to see her. He asks the wife's name, and when she replies he says its a lovely name. And then asks the daughter and she says Sophie, sounded like he was a bit taken aback and didn't quite know what to say. Don't know whether it was intentional or not but that moved me.

Orchids · 02-11-2018 3:49pm

Lawlesz wrote: »

Listened to this during the week. I thought it was very well put together, they did a great job of tracking down pretty much anyone to do with the case. It was pretty impressive they got the detective and even Fiona on to talk.

I was familiar with the case beforehand without knowing all the ins and outs. Probably thought Bailey was innocent and had been hounded and persecuted by the media from what I had seen and read.

After this, while still not convinced, my opinion has changed and I'd be more inclined to think he's guilty. After the mess the gards made of it, they were never going to recover enough evidence to convict anybody. He came across as very strange though, and definitely revels in the attention he gets from it. Comes across as almost getting a kick out of it all, I found it odd that he still goes to the market in a town where he is clearly not wanted, and persists in wearing shades no matter the weather. Seems like he's trying to creep people out and provoke a reaction, so he can be the victim again.

Another thing that stood out was when he said how the gards had never interviewed someone like him before and when pressed on what he meant, he said something like "they'd never met someone as intelligent as me".

I thought the wife came across as very naive and gullible, and backed up everything he said no matter how outlandish. How can you swipe someone away whilst driving and somehow tear their lip from their gum!

All in all though, a well researched series, no real answers from it but I suspect there will be more episodes in the future. Hopefully they manage to resolve it once and for all for the family, to give them some closure.

I found it very poignant in, I think the final episode, where Sophies son goes to see the barman Billy, who was the last to see her. He asks the wife's name, and when she replies he says its a lovely name. And then asks the daughter and she says Sophie, sounded like he was a bit taken aback and didn't quite know what to say. Don't know whether it was intentional or not but that moved me.

Agree totally

Another thing that struck me, I’m nearly certain in one of the episodes when they were talking about Sophie’s injuries it was mentioned that her lip was torn from her gum and then Jules had the same injury after a swipe from Ian, surely that wouldn’t have gone unnoticed??

Also the two suspects who took their own lives afterwards & the guy at the travel agents in Galway, were they discounted because the guards were convinced that it was Ian and didn’t want to consider any other scenario?
I’m intrigued by it all and would love more answers.

Ian loves the notoriety it’s brought him & he’s convinced he’s way better educated than any of the half wits he’s had to deal with in Ireland. The guy who was bribed with the hash to try & frame Ian also had that condescending attitude over the paddy’s he was dealing with too.

den87 · 22-01-2019 11:38pm

Have about an episode and a half of this left and it’s definitely one of the best things I’ve listened to. Hooks you in from the start, dips slightly around episodes 8-10 but most of it is fascinating.

Very well made and even though I’ve seen the case in papers for years, I knew very little about it.

Things I took away from it;

We’ll never know if Ian Bailey did it or not.

2 cases came down to the testimony of Marie Farrell and one of them on the fact she wouldn’t admit to who she was with on the night.

The Gardaí were way out of their depth and either a) didn’t have evidence on IB or b) messed it up from the beginning and it snowballed from there.

I don’t think IB did it but he didn’t exactly turn the spotlight away from him either.

The amount of stories, tales, gossip stemming from the case is unreal.

Blanco100 · 14-02-2019 12:18am

den87 wrote: »

Have about an episode and a half of this left and it’s definitely one of the best things I’ve listened to. Hooks you in from the start, dips slightly around episodes 8-10 but most of it is fascinating.

Very well made and even though I’ve seen the case in papers for years, I knew very little about it.

Things I took away from it;

We’ll never know if Ian Bailey did it or not.

2 cases came down to the testimony of Marie Farrell and one of them on the fact she wouldn’t admit to who she was with on the night.

The Gardaí were way out of their depth and either a) didn’t have evidence on IB or b) messed it up from the beginning and it snowballed from there.

I don’t think IB did it but he didn’t exactly turn the spotlight away from him either.

The amount of stories, tales, gossip stemming from the case is unreal.

can this be downloaded via pocketcast

dastardly00 · 14-02-2019 12:20am

Blanco100 wrote: »

can this be downloaded via pocketcast

No, it's only available on Audible.
You can listen to it for free with a free trial.

boombang · 05-03-2019 11:47pm

I enjoyed listening to this in a binge over a long weekend.

I'm really left in two minds over Ian Bailey. On the one hand he comes across as an attention hungry looser that relished the intrigue; and so may be the perfect red herring for the crime. On the other, he seems like a violent man with pronounced mental health difficulties that seems to fit the bill of the killer.

Overall, he seems like too much of a wally to not have totally slipped up and comprehensively implicated himself over twenty years since the murder.

Finally, one thing I didn't realise was how horrible and violent Sophie's death was. That's probably the main thing I'm left with. Poor soul.

sportsfan90 · 11-03-2019 8:28pm

I finished the last episode over the weekend and I'm none the wiser on if Bailey did it or not.

If I had to guess, I think that it was probably pinned on Bailey by the Guards so they focused entirely on him and nobody else. Then again, in the last episode or two I was struck how Bailey almost dismissed his domestic violence history by saying they weren't premeditated.

Great Podcast overall.

TomOnBoard · 11-03-2019 10:16pm

sportsfan90 wrote: »

I finished the last episode over the weekend and I'm none the wiser on if Bailey did it or not.

If I had to guess, I think that it was probably pinned on Bailey by the Guards so they focused entirely on him and nobody else. Then again, in the last episode or two I was struck how Bailey almost dismissed his domestic violence history by saying they weren't premeditated.

Great Podcast overall.

I'd kinda be of a similar view as yourself. Definitely a great piece of journalism overall. I'm not so sure it was 'pinned' on Bailey by the Guards, but possibly the bulk of the force was steered inappropriately by someone, since deceased, who had more 'skin in the game' than he should have had. The podcast didn't really deal with that facet enough though!

At the least, Bailey came across as somewhat unhinged from a social/awareness perspective, exhibiting a lot of narcissism and indeed acting as something of a sociopath along the way. His otherwise relatively mundane existence was clearly excited by all the attention and his participation in "the game". However, any prospect of outing him as a viable, prosecutable suspect was constantly undermined by cack- handed investigative processes, ranging from a Coroner who left a corpse out in the open for hours to manipulation of witnesses and disappearance of crucial evidence, such as a blood- and probably DNA- rich gate that never got the attention it probably deserved, or else its evidentiary treasure was subverted..

I look forward to the French prosecution. Let's see what that brings!

matthewo111 · 28-05-2019 10:02pm

Just finished the podcast series and here's some unfounded hot-take basket-case crack-pot theories.

1. Someone in the guards could have been actively involved - (apparently there are whispers of a local guard who has since died who is suspected - a very violent guy). The way they handled everything stunk to high-heaven. And they seem to have lost a tonne of evidence, like, more than can be considered normal... a blood-spattered gate, taken from close to where Ms Toscan du Plantier’s body was found, a French wine bottle found four months after the murder near the scene of the killing, and Mr Bailey’s black coat, all gone. There's something beyond the bounds of belief about all this, and everyone who has listened to the podcast know there is a tonne of other bizarre behaviour from the guards on this too.

2. Maria Farrell could have been more directly involved than she let on. She is one of the few people who was up at that hour and in the vicinity. It strikes me she was very much a person who (despite what she claims) liked being in the centre of it. And has proven to be a pathological liar. The DPP called her a "rotten apple" or something similar. Theres at least some signs of her being a psychopath here. Who was the other person in the car? Maybe it was just her. Or maybe Bailey himself. It's just bizarre she was taken at her word immediately. It's pretty unacceptable that she was allowed to keep silent on who was in the car with her. The man she claims it was, has been dead for a number of years. I kind of doubt it was who she says it was - just very convenient for her that he cannot verify it now.

Mantis Toboggan · 29-05-2019 9:48am

Murder trial without Ian Bailey has started in Paris.

Widdensushi · 31-05-2019 5:42pm

Guilty ,will they be able to extradite him though ?You would think they would but they have failed in the past .

TomOnBoard · 31-05-2019 6:11pm

Widdensushi wrote: »

Guilty ,will they be able to extradite him though ?You would think they would but they have failed in the past .

They'll probably have no better chance of getting him to France through the extradition process now that he has been tried and found guilty.

However, the French are very hard-nosed when it comes to 'plucking' lads from other EU countries when they've been found guilty in France. If I was Mr B, I'd be very careful about going for a sail or a dip in the sea off Schull. It would be fierce easy for him to find himself beyond a territorial limit, and looking into the eyes of a couple of Frogmen if he wasnt careful...

Look up the Kalinka Bamberski case as an example of what can happen...

Just sayin' , like.

irishgeo · 31-05-2019 7:53pm

guilty in his absence but entitled to a new trial if he finds himself someone how in france. can they issue a European arrest warrant.

02-06-2019 1:04pm

Dunphy has a podcast episode with Mick Clifford covering the trial in Paris

dastardly00 · 04-06-2019 12:55pm

TomOnBoard wrote: »

Look up the Kalinka Bamberski case as an example of what can happen...

Just sayin' , like.

Wow. Thanks for sharing

04-06-2019 2:46pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

Wow. Thanks for sharing

If I was family member of somebody murdered, I could see myself trading a one year suspended sentence for abduction to get the alleged murderer to stand trial...

cloudatlas · 04-06-2019 7:51pm

It's strange how much he relishes this 'celebrity' status.

Scott Tenorman · 13-09-2019 10:46pm

Finally got around to listen to this (it’s on YouTube).

Very interesting case. I went into it thinking Bailey was being fitted up and finished it thinking he could well have done it but was definitely being fitted up!

The gards made an absolute bags of the investigation & it will likely never be solved.

Robert McGrath · 14-09-2019 10:41am

Scott Tenorman wrote: »

Finally got around to listen to this (it’s on YouTube).

Very interesting case. I went into it thinking Bailey was being fitted up and finished it thinking he could well have done it but was definitely being fitted up!

The gards made an absolute bags of the investigation & it will likely never be solved.

If it’s the same YouTube stream I saw, then I’d say it’s worth signing up to Audible for the free trial for this. The sound quality is immeasurably better on the Audible version - there’s a big enough difference that I think the YouTube lack of quality detracts from the experience

irishgeo · 14-09-2019 7:48pm

what happened the extra episodes?

TomOnBoard · 14-09-2019 10:32pm

irishgeo wrote: »

what happened the extra episodes?

Perhaps the "extra episodes" referred to some additional analyses/reporting that would/might follow on from that Trial in Paris??

TheFortField · 01-10-2019 10:53pm

West Cork Podcast (Live) is coming to Limerick’s Limetree Theatre on October 13th. Has anyone attended this event in Cork or another venue? If so, what did you think?

A performance with live music and new material, of the hit podcast ‘West Cork’.

02-10-2019 10:04am

Seems like a bizarre event for a murder investigation podcast

awec · 09-10-2019 12:55pm

Just finished listening to this, great show and really leaves me feeling conflicted and somwhat confused.

If Marie Farrell told me it was raining I'd go to the window to check. It is arguable she comes out of this the worst.

Her refusal to name the person in the car, for her own selfish reasons, has contributed to a shambles of a murder case.

Daisy03 · 15-10-2019 6:39pm

Did anyone go to the event in the Cork Opera House Saturday night? I was very disappointed with the Q&A session. Not sure why they requested questions to be emailed in advance. The questions and answers were very general.

terrydel · 15-10-2019 9:44pm

Widdensushi wrote: »

Guilty ,will they be able to extradite him though ?You would think they would but they have failed in the past .

If he's extradited it is essentially an admission by the Irish state that they trust the decision of a judiciary in a foreign country above that of their own. It ain't gonna happen.

terrydel · 15-10-2019 9:48pm

cloudatlas wrote: »

It's strange how much he relishes this 'celebrity' status.

Not saying he's guilty or not, but how do you know he relishes the status? That's just personal opinion. Could easily be argued his media appearances or interviews are a desperate attempt to get his side of the story across. Unless you are familiar with him in a personal capacity, you are only guessing.

Kingp35 · 16-10-2019 9:46am

Daisy03 wrote:

Not sure why they requested questions to be emailed in advance. The questions and answers were very general.

It's so they can pick and choose which questions to answer and that they won't be caught out on the night by intelligent questions they can't answer. It's cowardly but many similar talks do the same.

p to the e · 17-10-2019 4:58pm

Kingp35 wrote: »

It's so they can pick and choose which questions to answer and that they won't be caught out on the night by intelligent questions they can't answer. It's cowardly but many similar talks do the same.

Went to the talk with the lawyer from the staircase and we had to write down any questions before the show. He could then pick and choose what questions he wanted to answer. Obviously none of them were too strenuous.

Daisy03 · 17-10-2019 10:11pm

I've been to similiar events before where questions were submitted on the night of the event. I've never been to one where they had to be emailed in advance.

It just felt like the Q&A session was a complete cop out. Other events I have been to for podcasts and documentaries have been so much better. I was really looking forward to the West Cork event but was very disappointed.

tech · 03-04-2020 2:10pm

Id love to get some more episopes of this, since there has been a few more dates in court since.

doughef · 05-04-2020 4:24pm

tech wrote: »

Id love to get some more episopes of this, since there has been a few more dates in court since.

Same / but then we’d all have download audible for another month free trial!!!

West Cork

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