Sophie The Final Verdict, Senan Molony
Sophie The Final Verdict, Senan Molony
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Sophie: The Final Verdict

Author: Senan Molony

Narrator: Jonathan White

Unabridged: 9 hr 42 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/26/2024

Synopsis

'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

About Senan Molony

Senan Molony is an award-winning journalist based in Dublin who works as a political correspondent for the Irish Independent. As crime correspondent with The Star, he was the first national specialist to arrive on the scene of the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder in 1996, where he was met by local journalist Ian Bailey, the newspaper's 'stringer', who later became the prime suspect in the case.Molony was at the forefront of crime journalism in Ireland for many years, from covering the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin to giving evidence against the Gilligan gang in the Special Criminal Court. He has reported variously for the Evening Herald, Irish Daily Mail and Irish Independent on tribunals, trials and murder investigations in Ireland and Britain.A 'Scoop of the Year' winner at the inaugural National Newspapers of Ireland Awards, he is author of bestselling book The Phoenix Park Murders about the infamous political assassinations of 1882. Senan has also written books about the Titanic, Lusitania and other ships, and devised and presented a number of television documentaries in Ireland, England and the United States.A student of James Joyce and author of a book about Ulysses, he has long earned a living writing about politics at Leinster House.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Eoin on December 29, 2024

This is a very detailed account of all of the circumstantial evidence that points at Ian Bailey. It reads like tabloid journalism wrapped in a book. If true crime is your thing you could like this, it's just not really a genre I enjoy reading. To me it's like reading gossip, particularly as the pers......more

Goodreads review by Shane on December 21, 2024

Have followed this case closely and read other books so I was conscious this book might be more of what I already knew. Book exceeded expectations and good bit of new stuff I didn't previously know. Also the fact the prime suspect is now deceased, it felt the opinions of those in the book were less......more

Goodreads review by Stephen on January 31, 2025

It is clearly not the final verdict but Senan Molonys verdict.. Bailey is guilty in Senans eyes but not in the courts of Ireland. Noting in the book that we didn't all ready know.......more

Goodreads review by Colin on March 03, 2025

Using the subtitle “The Final Verdict” is a bit rich. There’s lots of circumstantial evidence that paints a picture of a sexually depraved, violent man, but there’s not enough to convince beyond reasonable doubt that he’s a murderer. The DPP would have brought a case if they thought they’d win it. T......more

Goodreads review by John on April 21, 2025

This is the second book I’ve read on the Sophie case, having also watched the Netflix series and followed the West Cork podcast series. Molony very much ties his colours to the mast in fingering Ian Bailey as the killer. Whilst I still struggle to reach the same conclusion “beyond reasonable doubt”,......more

Quotes

A comprehensive and compelling collection of circumstantial evidence Irish Times

One of the most newsworthy and discussed books of the autumn, and contains many intriguing new pieces of information Sunday Independent

A bleak but fascinating read Business Post

Sophie is a punchy read. Senan Molony makes a very strong case as to why he believes that Ian Bailey committed the murder Irish Examiner

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