Ian Bailey cremated following private ceremony in Cork

Chief suspect for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, English journalist, Ian Bailey (66) has been cremated following a private ceremony in Co Cork on Tuesday afternoon.

It’s understood that the remains of Mr Bailey were released from the morgue at Bantry General Hospital into the care of his sole surviving relative, sister Kay Reynolds.

Ms Reynolds has not travelled to Ireland but arranged for Mr Bailey’s remains to be brought to The Island Crematorium near Ringaskiddy in Cork for a private cremation service.

Mr Bailey’s solicitor Frank Buttimer confirmed that he had been authorised by Ms Reynolds to confirm that Mr Bailey was cremated at a private event this morning.

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Ms Reynolds had not travelled to Cork but had made arrangements from her home in London for a firm of Kerry undertakers to collect Mr Bailey’s remains at Bantry General Hospital this morning.

His remains were then brought the near 100km journey from the West Cork town to the crematorium in Ringaskiddy which is located on Rocky Island on the shores of Cork Harbour.

Mr Bailey died from a suspected heart attack on Barrack Street in Bantry around lunchtime on Sunday.

Speaking to The Irish Times days before the anniversary of the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier’s death on December 23rd 1996, Mr Bailey revealed he had previously suffered two heart attacks, which had caused serious damage.

[ Toscan du Plantier murder was ‘very solvable’ case but for Garda errors ]

[ Ian Bailey’s three decades in Ireland: Accusations, assaults, legal battles, media scrutiny ]

[ Time and again, I saw the hopes of Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s family crushed ]

Mr Bailey repeatedly denied any involvement in the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier and said after suffering a heart attack last year that he hoped a Garda Cold Case review team would clear his name.