His 'admissions' were ridiculous....
He gave a 14 year old boy he knew a lift home (common in Schull) and said it to him, when asked how he was, "I was fine until I went up there and bashed her head in". The boy mentioned it to his Mum a few days later - she went to the Guards about it. In the sham trial in France it was the mother who went and not the man (who had been 14).
He was talking on the phone to an Editor a week or so after the murder and she said 'you know that your name is being mentioned ' and he said something like ' yes, case closed, it was me'. That woman told the Guards he had "admitted to it'! He just had a silly way of going about things - his idea of a dark joke.
He and Jules were drinking with a couple a year later and he apparently said it to the couple. They went home that night and drank with them the following day in a village pub. The couple didn't say anything to the Guards until six months later.
Jules and Ian both had issues with alcohol. He was wrong to violently assault her but that doesn't mean he murdered Sophie.
Other suspects could include:
Her husband - who didn't even come over for about a week! Her family repeatedly had to tell him that he must come. He had a baby with another woman within about 18 months of the murder.
An ex boyfriend - I think his name was Bruce? He had previously tried to choke her on the Paris Metro - this is documented. He had also sent her threatening letters in the post. He had been to the house in West cork.
Someone was squatting/using her house - she had changed the locks six months before her death as she was convinced someone was going in there when she was away.
A German man who lived about a kilometre from her - can't remember his name. He had moved there with his partner but she left saying he was abusive to her. He committed suicide about six weeks after the murder. Guards never talked to him.
There are a few others too...listen to the West Cork podcast and read about the case.
There is absolutely no evidence at all that Bailey committed the crime. He had been drinking heavily that evening. Would he have been able to walk the 6 or so kilometres to her house, commit this murder without leaving any trace of his blood, skin, etc and walk back? There was no motive? (He shared a car with Jules - it was driven the next day, hadn't just been cleaned. There were two of her daughters and a friend of theirs in the house too I think).
Marie Farrell was a disgrace. Talked absolute rubbish.
The Guards messed up here - they were so focused on Bailey and determined to make him 'fit' the crime as he was odd. It is possible he did it but innocent until proven guilty.
There is a cold case review of this on at the moment.. Bailey has repeatedly asked to be interviewed by them but I don't think he was given the opportunity.
It's a fascinating case.. and it's fascinating that so many people say it was him, despite knowing very little about the case.