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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Bailey may have been a lot of things – but he didn't kill Sophie', says ex-lover Jules as she makes bold ‘framed' claim
JULES Thomas believes she knows who killed Sophie Toscan du Plantier — and is adamant it wasn't her ex-lover Ian Bailey. Now she is going to tell all in a new book she is currently writing, as she battles a life-threatening blood 5 Ian Bailey and Jules Thomas, who is set to tell all in her new book Credit: PA:Press Association 5 Sophie Toscan du Plantier was found badly beaten outside her holiday home in Schull, West Cork, in December 1996 Credit: Copyright remains with handout provider 5 Ian Bailey was convicted in absentia by a French court of Sophie's murder Credit: � 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved The talented painter told how Sophie's brutal And Jules said she will never forgive the Although she didn't name names, she said the killer is someone who is well connected with the forces of law and order. Jules also believes that person was involved in a relationship with the READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS Her comments come as Sophie's family in Jules said: 'I will tell my side of the story in this book. 'I want to get the truth out there while I am alive. Ian Bailey may have been a lot of things, but he did not kill Sophie. I can tell you now, he didn't have it in him to kill anyone — he couldn't kill a turkey, for God's sake.' Most read in Irish News Jules was Ian's alibi on the night Sophie, 39, was killed. She claims detectives were hoping she would change her story after she and 'NEVER A DANGER' She recalled: 'When the 'Well, here we are all these years later and, guess what? Ian didn't kill me. He has passed on and I am still here. He was never a danger to me or anyone else.' Jules added: 'The Gardai, as far as I am concerned, tried to frame Ian for the murder and, in doing so, ruined both our lives. 'They never seriously looked at any other suspects. 'In this book, I will tell the public what actually went on and put the record straight. 'The Gardai did everything to try and get me to change my story, but the truth is the truth. I kept telling them Ian did not kill Sophie, but they wouldn't listen.' Bailey was arrested twice over the killing but never charged. He was convicted in absentia by a French 5 The house of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, in Cork Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 5 New DNA testing is underway in hopes of finding the answer to the mystery Credit: AFP - Getty
The Irish Sun
05-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘He gets zero fan mail' – Twisted love letters to evil Graham Dwyer from female fans dry up in ‘blow' to killer's ego
EVIL killer Graham Dwyer no longer receives "love letters" from female fans looking for a relationship with him. The banged-up 52-year-old used to receive scores of letters every year from women in Ireland and abroad, anxious to connect with him. 4 Twisted Graham Dwyer's fan mail has dried up Credit: � 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 4 Elaine O'Hara was last seen in August of 2012 Credit: Copyright remains with handout provider But prison sources say the so-called 'love letters' have now dried up and women, for various reasons, don't want anything to do with the former architect any more. Married dad Her remains were found in the Dublin Mountains in 2013. Dwyer is 'There are little or no women writing to him anymore — in fact, he gets zero fan mail. He has now served ten years in jail and is getting older by the day. 'He has lost his boyish looks and is probably not the attraction that he used to be. 'I also think when women look at what he did to his victim, they might think to themselves, why would I want anything to do with a fella like him? It is a big blow to his inflated ego that women are not queuing up to write to him any more.' Following a harrowing nine-week trial, evil Dwyer, from Foxrock, was convicted by unanimous verdict of stabbing 36-year-old Elaine to death in the Dublin Mountains. The married man, who was filmed knifing sexual partners and admitted having an affair with his vulnerable victim, was hit with the mandatory life sentence. Judge Tony Hunt told the Graham Dwyer gets female visitor ban as only 'official' girlfriends allowed by jail The prosecution case summed up with the assertion he was 'a sadistic and brutal pervert with nothing on his mind other than murder'. Evidence from mobile phones used by Dwyer and his victim were central to the prosecution. EVIDENCE FROM TRIAL One text from the killer stood out in the evidence: 'I want to stick my knife in flesh while I am sexually aroused. Blood turns me on and I'd like to stab a girl to death some time.' Another sick message said: 'My urge to rape, stab or kill is huge. You have to help me control or satisfy it.' On the face of it, married Dwyer was living a normal life in a well-to-do part of south Dublin with his wife and children, working in a successful architects' practice and enjoying a hobby of flying model planes. Meanwhile all along he had been developing a deviant sexual affair after meeting his victim online. State lawyers claimed he toyed with the idea of three potential victims, including Darci Day, a young woman from Maine in the US, who also met Dwyer on the internet and gave evidence via videolink. Childcare worker O'Hara's remains were found in a forest on Killakee Mountain on September 13, 2013. She had been reported missing 13 months earlier. No murder weapon was ever recovered, and due to her badly decomposed remains dental records were used to identify her, and an autopsy could not explain how she died. A new Murderer Behind the Mask, released last month, gives a 4 New CCTV footage showed Dwyer entering O'Hara's home Credit: Amazon Prime The two-part series features startling images of Dwyer and O'Hara separately entering Belarmine Plaza, despite the architect's initial denials that it was him on camera. Detective Sergeant Kevin Duggan told producers the task of trawling through footage was similar to looking for a 'needle in the haystack'. Speaking on the 'At the time of the murder investigation I was given the job to coordinate all CCTV footage relating to the apartment block where she lived. 'It was a fairly mammoth task to review this footage. There was something like over 5,300 hours. It was like looking for the needle in a haystack. WHO WAS ELAINE O HARA ELAINE O'Hara was 36 years old when she was murdered by Graham Dwyer. She was last seen in August 2012 in a park in Shanganagh, south Dublin. Born on St Patrick's Day, March 17, in 1976 in Dublin, Elaine was raised in the capital and educated in Ballybrack and at St Joseph of Cluny secondary school in Killiney. As a teen, she was bullied at school and lost a close friend in a road accident. This led her to spiral into isolation, becoming withdrawn and self-harming on occasion. Two major setbacks in her life were the death of her mother in March 2002 and the death of Prof Clare in October 2007. She was admitted to St Edmundsbury Hospital in Lucan, Dublin - now St Patrick's Hospital - 14 times between 1992 and 2012. Elaine revealed to specialists she had been tormented by a 'play in her head' - an obsession with being restrained - since the age of 12. She was under the care of Professor Anthony Clare for 16 years, who said she did not have psychosis but diagnosed her with borderline personality disorder and depression. Elaine also suffered from asthma and diabetes and was dyslexic. She moved out the family home in Killiney in 2005 to an apartment in Blackrock. Eventually she'd move to Stepaside in 2008. She took night classes in Dun Laoghaire to become a Montessori teacher and worked as a childcare assistant at a school in Ballybrack and part-time at Ken's newsagents in Blackrock. A month before her murder, in July 2012, she had contacted St Edmundsbury herself and got admitted. Her dad Frank and multiple doctors said they thought she'd been "doing better" before she vanished that August. Her family, in a victim impact statement read to court in 2015, described Elaine as a "very intelligent girl who never fully realised her potential due to her psychological difficulties". They added: "She was prescribed a lot of medication and this did have an impact on her ability to be a regular teenager, particularly socially. "She was emotionally immature and very trusting of anyone who showed her kindness. "In later years her medication was reduced, hospital stays became less common and she functioned more effectively. However, she had missed out on those important, formative teenage years. "She had a strong work ethic and loved working with children, as she could relate to them better than to adults. "She was always there to help and assist others, giving lifts, covering shifts at work or collecting many of the items for the Christmas Fair at school. "Elaine adored her niece who was also her goddaughter and loved reading, painting and playing with her. "Elaine's ambition was to be a teacher and she was studying Montessori. "In 2014, we collected a BA in Montessori education which was awarded to her in St Nicholas Montessori school. "She would have been so happy and proud to stand up in her gown and hat to accept that degree herself after overcoming many obstacles to finally get the qualification she longed for, but unfortunately this was not to be." 'We were looking through CCTV footage but we really didn't know what or who we were looking for. 'At one stage while reviewing the CCTV, one particular individual enters the apartment block. 'We hadn't noticed this male enter before. It was someone new to us. 'He piqued our attention a little bit when he seemed a little bit uncomfortable, he seemed to be hiding his face from the camera. 'Also when he went to push the button for the lift he covered his hand with his sleeve of his jumper. 'That alerted us a little bit, that was a bit of a red flag.' In court, Detective Sergeant Duggan also gave evidence that he and his team had viewed hours of CCTV footage from the apartment block at Belarmine Plaza in This was shown to Dwyer's son and former co-workers during proceedings, and the man in the images was later confirmed to be Dwyer. The new documentary follows gardai as they uncover a 'very surprising suspect'. 4 Dwyer's appearance on the footage 'piqued' investigators' attention Credit: Amazon Prime
The Irish Sun
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Fresh guidance issued on phone BAN in schools after €9m pouch fury as McEntee denies Government U-turn
EDUCATION Minister Helen McEntee has denied a Government U-turn on phone pouches as new school guidance was issued on students' use of mobiles. National guidelines on Advertisement 3 Simon Harris said the budget funding would be for all kinds of phone storage solutions Credit: � 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 3 Helen McEntee said the measure aimed to 'enhance' student wellbeing Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire The opposition criticised the pouch funding as a waste of public money while the Government said the funding averaged out at around €20 per student. In the This includes lockable boxes, cubby holes or drop off and collection at the school office. He said a new procurement process is to be published 'in the coming days'. Advertisement Read more in News He added: 'This will not delay schools in applying for and accessing funding for phone-storage solutions. 'An application process will be open to post-primary schools soon and the issuing of funding will commence shortly thereafter. 'A new procurement process will be published in the coming days and then schools will be able to seek to apply to draw down funding and put in place the phone-storage solution that works best for them. This is a pragmatic and sensible way to proceed.' Speaking on Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Exclusive She said: There is absolutely no U-turn here.' Muireann O'Connell slams new proposed Budget 2024 plan for smarts phones in schools In the guidance issued on Friday, primary schools now require a policy to ban the use of and access to mobile phones during the school day. Secondary schools require a policy to restrict mobile phone use during the school day, using the The Department of Education said the measure aimed to 'enhance' student wellbeing, reduce cyber bullying and exposure to inappropriate content, and 'promote' focus in school. Advertisement 'CONSISTENT APPROACH' McEntee said: 'First and foremost, this policy is about ensuring that our schools are phone-free learning environments.' 'Students should not be on their phones during the school day. This guidance and support will ensure all schools have the supports they need to achieve this, having regard to their own requirements. 'Having engaged with many different school communities across the country, I am confident that this policy will support student wellbeing, engagement and their interaction with their peers, while also recognising the experience and expertise of school communities and the need for consultation.' She added: 'This initiative empowers school communities to lead on the issue, backed by €9m in funding to allow post-primary schools to use the phone storage solution that works best for their school community and their students.' Advertisement The department said the method used to limit phone use will be decided by each school, and could include phone storage pouches or lock boxes, keeping phones in lockers, using classroom lockable boxes or cubbies, and drop-off and collection at the school office. It said: 'Schools will adopt a consistent approach for the full school day, with limited exemptions allowed for medical or compassionate grounds, as outlined in the guidance information." 3 The opposition criticised the pouch funding as a waste of public money Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
‘Get clothes off the line' – Rare radar map reveals exact time rain will hit as Met Eireann warn of Atlantic switch
HEAVY downpours are moving in over Ireland this afternoon, with a rare weather map pinpointing the exact time rain makes its unwelcome return. 2 A rare map shows Ireland is set to be battered this afternoon 2 Heavy and persistent rain is hitting Credit: � 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved The weather boffins warned that now is time to get the clothes off the They said: "Get the clothes off the line. It's on its way! A warm front pushing east. "Such a long time since there was a radar image like this." READ MORE IN NEWS Matthew Martin said that "unsettled, Atlantic dominated He said: "Well it's all changed weatherwise now as a more unsettled Atlantic dominated weather regime takes hold as low pressure systems begin to spread in from the Atlantic. "The first frontal band is bringing some patchy rain and drizzle now to the west. "And this rain and drizzle will spread further eastwards over Ireland through this afternoon and evening with the rain reaching the east coast before evening time." MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN While the rain starts today, it will be mild at first with Watch moment lightning strike 'blows all power' in popular Irish seaside town He continued: "Rainfall amounts will be small along this front, especially in the south. As this rain moves in there will also be some mist and hill fog. "Highest temperatures today between 15C and 19C with moderate south to southwest winds developing. "Rain then will clear from eastern parts of Ulster and Leinster early tonight. It will stay mostly cloudy with patches of drizzle and some mist and fog around too on coasts and hills. "Mild tonight with temperatures not falling below 12C to 14C with a moderate southwesterly breeze." PERSISTENT SPELLS ARRIVE This He said: "Tomorrow then will begin generally cloudy with scattered patches of light rain and some areas of mist and fog with plenty of dry weather overall. "A spell of heavier and more persistent rain will extend across the country from the southwest tomorrow afternoon though before being followed by heavy squally showers in the evening time. UNSETTLED OUTLOOK "It will become increasingly breezy tomorrow with fresh and gusty southwest winds developing. Rather humid though despite the breeze with highs of 15C to 19C. "Then there will be showers on Saturday night. Some of these heavy and prolonged especially there in the northwest with the best of the clearest bells on Saturday night in the east and south." On Sunday, it will be a "bright and blustery day with sunshine and scattered showers". This will feed quickly across the country, bringing heavy showers and thunder. As for next week, Matthew said: "Next week the weather remains fairly unsettled on Monday and Tuesday with showers or longer spells of rain with the rain most likely to affect southern areas. "And the weather will remain rather changeable and unsettled throughout much of next week."
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
New Leaving Certificate cycle to start for thousands of Irish students in months amid ‘better system' hopes
A NEW Leaving Certificate senior cycle has been confirmed and is set to start this September. Minister for Education 2 Minister for Education Helen McEntee confirmed the news this morning Credit: � 2024 PA Media, All Rights Reserved 2 The new cycle will be introduced in September Credit: Getty Images - Getty The shake-up has been described as in the "best interest of Minister McEntee said: "Over the past number of weeks, there have been intensive and constructive engagements with the post-primary teacher unions regarding senior cycle redevelopment. "I am happy to confirm that these talks have now concluded, with a package of supports offered to support the implementation of senior cycle redevelopment from September.' McEntee added that new proposal is in the hands of the READ MORE IN NEWS She continued: "Their input has been instrumental in shaping our shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead. "Proceeding with the introduction of new and revised subjects under senior cycle redevelopment in September is in the best interest of students. "It will help to reduce the pressure faced by students, while recognising a broader range of skills and ensuring that students have the skills necessary to thrive and succeed in a rapidly changing world. "Not only will these supports help teachers and schools to implement senior cycle redevelopment, they will ultimately ensure that students across the country reap the benefits of a revised senior cycle." MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN The first review of the Ireland's oldest Leaving Cert student awaits results as grandson to sit exams next year By 2024, both These would be implemented in Tranche 1 in The redeveloped subjects launching in September include eight subjects, such as Ancient Greek, Arabic, The remaining redeveloped subjects will be introduced in the following tranches. WELCOMED CHANGE This decision had been approved by former Minister for Education Following the calls, the In April, Minister McEntee wrote to the unions to confirm the new programme would be implemented as previously announced. She added that any further delay to this would be a disservice to students. 'A BETTER SYSTEM' McEntee added: "This agreement provides a number of important supports to teachers, students and schools to ensure the successful implementation of senior cycle redevelopment. "I look forward to continuing close collaboration with the ASTI and TUI, indeed with all representative bodies, as we work together to strengthen and support senior cycle redevelopment." Students from the Irish Second-Level Students' Union backed the new reform. The ISSU president, Jack McGinn, said: "We are redeveloping our senior cycle because we need to deliver a better system for students, that is what these redevelopments will achieve - we cannot afford to wait another year." "I welcome the announcement of specific posts of responsibilities to support schools in implementing the reforms, and the increase and extension of grant funding for the science subjects - ensuring that students will have equal access to resources. "The ISSU encourages stakeholders to support the implementation of support measures. It is imperative that we deliver clarity for students on the ground, to enable them to reach their full potential."
