Great analysis. I think certain locals have now begun to have doubts, but they're focusing on another hated "blow-in" (also dead) rather than face up to the likelihood that Sophie's neighbour, the late Alfie Lyons, killed her in a drug-addled row at the gate. I explain the background to this theory in my book "The Blow-In: Ian Bailey's fight to clear his name" (available on Amazon.com in paperback only). I also dive into other theories and include link to many books, audio and video clips, threads, etc - and of course a link to Crime Guy's blog which is one of the best as it's not polluted by prejudice. Maybe this crime will never be solved, but even to write about we need to be detached - like historians.
Thanks so much for the kind words. I see more than 50% of those in the poll said they thought the killer was 'someone else' and I did not think to include Alfie Lyons in the poll - some others have commented that they think it was him as well. I felt at the time I started reading about this that he had been thoroughly discounted, but I try to stay open-minded. I don't have any local knowledge or ties to the area which surely makes it easier to detach, but then on the other hand it's harder to get beyond what the books and media say. I'm going to read your book. This case is still really important to me even if I doubt we will ever really get a full explanation after all these years.
Thank you for sticking up for Ian Bailey whose entire life was deliberately destroyed by this horrifying event, apart from Sophie’s life taken so brutally, RIP to both. I think it could have been someone well known within the Gardai for being a violent man, at the time. Gemma O’Doherty mentions this in detail. Anyhow am buying your book Geraldine - Ian has been persecuted and vilified so much that it is rare to find someone who goes against the herd mentality (as well as an oftentimes corrupted one) that dominates mainstream media in Ireland and elsewhere including within that of the general public
Thanks for commenting. I've always tried to keep an open mind. I found myself watching Murder at the Cottage again yesterday. So many contradictory theories.
I think Gemma O'Doherty's theory is certainly plausible in the context of the way the Guards seemed incapable of looking seriously at any other suspect ; while I don't believe they intended to "frame" him, I believe they suffered from groupthink - which is a natural if inexcusable trap to fall into. Maybe they simply couldn't imagine that this [deceased] colleague was capable of murder. But my own view is that it was a simple case of Alfie Lyons, fuelled by cannabis or coming down from a cannabis high, just losing the head with his nagging neighbour and killing her during a row at the gate that morning - then cooling down with the realisation of what he had just done, and going back to his house just behind Sophie's, and waiting for his unfortunate partner find the body.
Thanks Geraldine - I’ll read your book before making any other comments on this horrifying story. I am just glad that more people are breaking out of the black and white mentality as well as the cover-ups that dominated life in Ireland at that time, basically just thinking outside of the box and having the guts to write a book expressing a different point of view that does not conform to msm nor to parochial condemnation. . I just hope that Ian Bailey’s name will be cleared after the demonization and persecution he endured for so long, in the not so far future
I’m hosting a dinner party at my house on Saturday 29th July for 12 guests. We are to be the “jury” in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case. It’s really an opportunity to all discuss the details and see where we all stand. It should be an interesting event!
Hi Paul. We had a fantastic evening thank you. The opening verdict was 7/5 not guilty but after 4 hours debate it was 10/2 not guilty! Everyone had really made an effort with their research & the most popular theory was something to do with Alfie Lyon’s & or the drug angle. Ann
Such a great idea for a dinner party! But Alfie Lyons again. A lot of people have been blaming Lyons in recent weeks. I'm starting to feel like I should have paid more attention to him. I think Jim Sheridan in his series ruled him out early on and I didn't really hear anyone else build a serious case against Lyons until now.
I have to say that I didn’t hear about the case until I watched the Jim Sheridan documentary & my first gut feeling back then was Alfie Lyon’s. It was purely a gut feeling with nothing whatsoever to back it up. But since then I’ve read about the drugs etc & can see how that might have escalated. Another theory from my guests was that Marie Farrell was the killer or, if not, that she knew who was & was covering for them. She didn’t mean to implicate Ian Bailey but tried to make the suspect seem European. The gardi then turned that description into Ian Bailey 🤷🏻♀️ I just hope this cold case produces a result. Ann
Great analysis. I think certain locals have now begun to have doubts, but they're focusing on another hated "blow-in" (also dead) rather than face up to the likelihood that Sophie's neighbour, the late Alfie Lyons, killed her in a drug-addled row at the gate. I explain the background to this theory in my book "The Blow-In: Ian Bailey's fight to clear his name" (available on Amazon.com in paperback only). I also dive into other theories and include link to many books, audio and video clips, threads, etc - and of course a link to Crime Guy's blog which is one of the best as it's not polluted by prejudice. Maybe this crime will never be solved, but even to write about we need to be detached - like historians.
Thanks so much for the kind words. I see more than 50% of those in the poll said they thought the killer was 'someone else' and I did not think to include Alfie Lyons in the poll - some others have commented that they think it was him as well. I felt at the time I started reading about this that he had been thoroughly discounted, but I try to stay open-minded. I don't have any local knowledge or ties to the area which surely makes it easier to detach, but then on the other hand it's harder to get beyond what the books and media say. I'm going to read your book. This case is still really important to me even if I doubt we will ever really get a full explanation after all these years.
Thank you for sticking up for Ian Bailey whose entire life was deliberately destroyed by this horrifying event, apart from Sophie’s life taken so brutally, RIP to both. I think it could have been someone well known within the Gardai for being a violent man, at the time. Gemma O’Doherty mentions this in detail. Anyhow am buying your book Geraldine - Ian has been persecuted and vilified so much that it is rare to find someone who goes against the herd mentality (as well as an oftentimes corrupted one) that dominates mainstream media in Ireland and elsewhere including within that of the general public
Thanks for commenting. I've always tried to keep an open mind. I found myself watching Murder at the Cottage again yesterday. So many contradictory theories.
I think Gemma O'Doherty's theory is certainly plausible in the context of the way the Guards seemed incapable of looking seriously at any other suspect ; while I don't believe they intended to "frame" him, I believe they suffered from groupthink - which is a natural if inexcusable trap to fall into. Maybe they simply couldn't imagine that this [deceased] colleague was capable of murder. But my own view is that it was a simple case of Alfie Lyons, fuelled by cannabis or coming down from a cannabis high, just losing the head with his nagging neighbour and killing her during a row at the gate that morning - then cooling down with the realisation of what he had just done, and going back to his house just behind Sophie's, and waiting for his unfortunate partner find the body.
Thanks Geraldine - I’ll read your book before making any other comments on this horrifying story. I am just glad that more people are breaking out of the black and white mentality as well as the cover-ups that dominated life in Ireland at that time, basically just thinking outside of the box and having the guts to write a book expressing a different point of view that does not conform to msm nor to parochial condemnation. . I just hope that Ian Bailey’s name will be cleared after the demonization and persecution he endured for so long, in the not so far future
I’m hosting a dinner party at my house on Saturday 29th July for 12 guests. We are to be the “jury” in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case. It’s really an opportunity to all discuss the details and see where we all stand. It should be an interesting event!
Please could you update us on what the jury found? I hope you had a great evening!
Hi Paul. We had a fantastic evening thank you. The opening verdict was 7/5 not guilty but after 4 hours debate it was 10/2 not guilty! Everyone had really made an effort with their research & the most popular theory was something to do with Alfie Lyon’s & or the drug angle. Ann
Such a great idea for a dinner party! But Alfie Lyons again. A lot of people have been blaming Lyons in recent weeks. I'm starting to feel like I should have paid more attention to him. I think Jim Sheridan in his series ruled him out early on and I didn't really hear anyone else build a serious case against Lyons until now.
I have to say that I didn’t hear about the case until I watched the Jim Sheridan documentary & my first gut feeling back then was Alfie Lyon’s. It was purely a gut feeling with nothing whatsoever to back it up. But since then I’ve read about the drugs etc & can see how that might have escalated. Another theory from my guests was that Marie Farrell was the killer or, if not, that she knew who was & was covering for them. She didn’t mean to implicate Ian Bailey but tried to make the suspect seem European. The gardi then turned that description into Ian Bailey 🤷🏻♀️ I just hope this cold case produces a result. Ann
Ian Bailey was no saint but he was set up to be framed for this horrific murder. RIP Ian, the truth will out one day