Ian Bailey says claim Jules Thomas nearly lost an eye after assault "gross exaggeration"

Ian Bailey says claim Jules Thomas nearly lost an eye after assault

Thomas had to get eight stitches after her lip nearly severed from her gum during one of multiple attacks from Bailey.


Ian Bailey has responded to questions about his history of domestic violence against his former partner Jules Thomas.


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Speaking to Colette Fitzpatrick during Monday night's The Big Interview when questioned on Thomas having "nearly lost an eye" during one of the multiple assaults inflicted by Bailey, he said: "I think that was a gross exaggeration but I do accept -".

Bailey was cut off by Fitzpatrick who interjected by saying: "She was in the hospital, Ian."


He responded: "Yeah, she was."


The interviewer added that her lip was "almost completely severed from her gum" as she had to get eight stitches.


"I know, it's shameful," Bailey replied.


Bailey's relationship with Thomas ended in April of 2021, however, in 2014 Thomas told the High Court that an alcohol-fueled "attack happened" at the hands of Bailey in 1993, leaving her with "very painful" injuries.


Thomas also told the High Court of a second "alcohol-fuelled" assault carried out by Bailey against her in May of 1996 which was described as "very bad", confirming that she experienced hair loss and facial injuries during the assault. She added that a third assault also occurred in 2001.


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Bailey has maintained his innocence in regard to the murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan Du Plantier after first hitting headlines as a suspect in the case.

The brutal murder, which took place in the town of Schull in west Cork in 1996, triggered one of the biggest murder investigations Ireland had ever seen and became a national obsession.


Over the past quarter of a century, facts and information about the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier are still being released to the public, with most people in Ireland able to give a broad strokes retelling of the murder.


In 2019, a French Court found Bailey guilty of voluntary homicide, sentencing him to 25 years in prison.


Ireland didn't extradite Bailey due to a Supreme Court ruling in 2012 that the Irish extraterritorial provision was not the equivalent of the French legislation and therefore they were not reciprocal.


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Bailey was not present for the French trial after winning the legal battle against his extradition.


Ian Bailey: The Big Interview airs on Monday 13 September at 9pm on Virgin Media One.