'Poor fella' - What the Irish public said as Ian Bailey is cremated in Cork

Irish people have been sharing their thoughts and condolences after the funeral of Ian Bailey took place last week.

A private service took place in Cork after the 66-year-old died following a heart attack. His body was cremated after the short service.

Ian Bailey was the main suspect in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier and despite being convicted of her murder in his absence by a Paris court in May 2019, he was never convicted in Ireland.

The story of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has been the subject of multiple TV shows and widespread discussion since her tragic killing in 1996.

Mr Bailey had always vehemently denied any involvement in Ms Toscan du Plantier’s death.

Irish people have been sharing their thoughts on the late Ian Bailey in comments on news stories about his death and funeral.

One wrote: "How are people saying the poor man may he rest in peace. What about the poor family of Sophie now who will never ever get closure!?"

Another said: "Perhaps now he has passed someone who has information and may have been afraid to speak out will do so now, if he was guilty. Then Sophie's family will have some closure. Or perhaps he was innocent and the man can now rest in peace. Either way an terrible existence has come to an end."

A third described him as a "poor fella" who had been "bloody hounded to death."

One woman said she "met Ian in Bantry a couple of years ago" and described him as a "likeable chap."

"Hope he can finally rest in peace and the real murderer never sleeps again," a further comment read.

Other comments were less than complimentary of the British native who had made West Cork his adopted home.

"Nasty individual, whether guilty of the crime he was accused of or not. No loss," one person wrote.

"Wish he had been cleared before his death RIP. Just would have preferred if it was sorted as in he was found guilty or they found the person who committed the crime," a second wrote.