Journalist Ian Bailey, the prime suspect in the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, has died at the age of 66. 

It is understood he collapsed this afternoon on Barrick Street in Bantry, west Cork. He is suspected to have had a heart attack. 

Emergency services were called and paramedics performed CPR at the scene. It is reported Mr Bailey was declared dead at the scene. 

Ian Bailey dies

His body has since been removed to the morgue at Bantry General Hospital.

Mr Bailey had been admitted to hospital in September 2023 for a double heart attack.

Originally from Manchester, England, Mr Bailey became the chief suspect in the murder of 39-year-old French woman Sophie Tuscan du Plantier in 1996. 

Ms Toscan du Plantier was found killed outside her holiday home near Toormore, Goleen, Co Cork on December 23rd, 1996. 

Mr Bailey was arrested and questioned twice by Gardaí about the murder but has denied killing Ms Tuscan du Plantier. 

He was convicted of her murder in absentia in France in 2019. He was sentenced to 25 years in jail and French authorities sought his extradition to French prison. 

However, the Irish courts refused to extradite him. 

In 2022, Gardaí announced it would conduct a full review of Ms Toscan du Plantier's murder.

In December 2023, it was reported that Gardaí were continuing to make progress in the cold case investigation.