Sophie: The Final Verdict
On sale
10th April 2025
Price: £11.99
Genre
‘This is the book that puts all the evidence before the people’ Jean-Pierre Gazeau, uncle of Sophie Toscan du Plantier
‘An outstanding and compelling read’ Micheál Martin TD
‘A comprehensive and compelling collection of circumstantial evidence’ Irish Times
Journalist Senan Molony was the first national crime correspondent on the scene of Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s brutal murder in December 1996, ahead of a chain of events that would shock the nation.
The 2024 death of prime suspect Ian Bailey reopens the case for Molony, who goes behind the scenes to tell the full chilling story – from first seeing the Englishman as someone with impressive inside sources, to his moment of awakening at Bailey’s arrest for a murder the suspect freely wrote about in the national press.
The book charts the astonishing early days of a doomed investigation and times thereafter as Bailey – a violent misogynist and pathological liar – escaped charge or trial in Ireland despite convincing evidence.
Including interviews with Sophie’s family, key garda investigators, local witnesses and Bailey himself, it explodes commonly held myths and brings to light fresh and disturbing disclosures, amounting to damning proof of guilt.
‘Fascinating read’ Business Post
‘Contains many intriguing new pieces of information’ Sunday Independent
‘An outstanding and compelling read’ Micheál Martin TD
‘A comprehensive and compelling collection of circumstantial evidence’ Irish Times
Journalist Senan Molony was the first national crime correspondent on the scene of Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s brutal murder in December 1996, ahead of a chain of events that would shock the nation.
The 2024 death of prime suspect Ian Bailey reopens the case for Molony, who goes behind the scenes to tell the full chilling story – from first seeing the Englishman as someone with impressive inside sources, to his moment of awakening at Bailey’s arrest for a murder the suspect freely wrote about in the national press.
The book charts the astonishing early days of a doomed investigation and times thereafter as Bailey – a violent misogynist and pathological liar – escaped charge or trial in Ireland despite convincing evidence.
Including interviews with Sophie’s family, key garda investigators, local witnesses and Bailey himself, it explodes commonly held myths and brings to light fresh and disturbing disclosures, amounting to damning proof of guilt.
‘Fascinating read’ Business Post
‘Contains many intriguing new pieces of information’ Sunday Independent
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Reviews
A comprehensive and compelling collection of circumstantial evidence
One of the most newsworthy and discussed books of the autumn, and contains many intriguing new pieces of information
A bleak but fascinating read
Sophie is a punchy read. Senan Molony makes a very strong case as to why he believes that Ian Bailey committed the murder