West Cork

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In West Cork, it’s simply known as ‘the murder’. In 1996 French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier is found dead near her holiday home. There are no witnesses and no known motive. The police suspect one man in this community but they can’t make a charge stick and he refuses to leave, living under the glare of suspicion ever since. 

This series brings together an incredible cast of characters, many of whom have never spoken publicly before. The family of the victim bring to life a woman lost; the suspect puts forward his defence; and local people explain what it’s like to have the living embodiment of their unsettled nerves still resolutely among them. Reported and hosted by Jennifer Forde and Sam Bungey. 

To be first to listen to bonus episodes of West Cork and Sam and Jennifer's incredible next series, sign up at www.westcorkpodcast.com

“The hosts beautifully communicate how a tragedy can impact a town and its people in devastating ways.” Time magazine

“Meticulous and thoughtful … The podcast is vastly more soulful than so many of its peers, in large part by functioning as an exploration of how a tragedy, mixed with spectacle, can redefine and consume the terms of a place, a person, and a time." Nick Quah, Vulture

“One of the few podcasts that caused us to drive in pointless extra loops in total silence, just so we could hear another episode. West Cork is the new Serial. It may even be better.” India Knight, The Times

"Knocked me out like no other podcast since S-Town. A masterpiece." Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Say Nothing

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Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

Lu Gibson

Recent news, what now?

Bailey’s now passed, and while the journalists did their part in providing a thorough retelling —including other possible angles not pursued further by garda’s investigation— it seems this case and the people involved in, it just want to go back to their corners for good. It’s pretty clear from this and the Netflix docuseries he'd suffered plenty, and the decline in his health was a direct impact from stress (or guilt?) from the media maelstrom and the French court’s conviction. Still, what more can be done, if not by these hosts, as well as the host town of Cork, whose days of living in fear of their boogeyman are no more? The obsolescence of police in public consciousness continues to grow all over the world, as corruption cases, bloated budgets for their militarization projects, wrongful arrests, and murders by police go unchecked. Still, news and television media is this ceaseless feedback loop of humanizing the job itself, instead of focusing on the real problem: what and who gets to decide where “justice” can be found? Through belief in law enforcement and the courts, why keep deceiving ourselves with that belief that they can, and only, work for us?
inn ar the seventh court

Why?

I regret ever hearing his voice
Xmike5000

Boring , repetitive - only needs 2 episodes to tell the story

Jeez. I appreciate the work that went into this podcast but they repeat stuff 25 times. It’s like they wanted to stretch a story that could’ve been told in 1 hour into 7 hours. Unfortunately my wife and I got bored after 5 and I read the story on Wikipedia for closure.
Neen836

Feel like I was led down the road to nowhere

Exactly what was uncovered in this journalism/investigation? I felt like each episode I kept waiting to learn what new info was brought to the surface since 1997 but I just kept hearing interviews from the original suspect and original “key witness” with no new concrete evidence or theories found. Probably could have been two episodes.
daughterofolaf

High quality but overly long

I was familiar with this story before listening to this podcast but only on a surface level. The story/case itself is compelling and creepy. I had horribly graphic nightmares one night when I listened to this right before bed. I am prone to nightmares anyway but this show made them far worse. The images painted by the narrators are excellent, enough that I feel as though I can see Sophie reading in her house from the road myself! I liked the production value and it is clear the creators did a lot of research here which is appreciated. My only real criticism is that the series was too long. It was a total of 14 episodes but frankly could have been adequately covered in maybe 10 or possibly even less. I admit that I did begin to lose interest in the last few episodes because it just seemed like endless stories of “a witness said Ian did this and Ian said they are lying.” It all started to sound the same after a while. I would recommend this podcast to anyone who is interested in true crime, but just be aware of the length of the show and that somehow the story never feels like it has a proper ending—that is to say the events and resolution in real life just seem dissatisfying. Which has nothing to do with the show. The show is good. :)
StayHydrated!

Nice accents

Puts me right to sleep, I love it
Sammy224467

Redundant and long

This has been the worse pod cast I have listened to. Everything could have been summed up in 1 episode. Don’t t waste your time
BritBrit48

One of the best

Truly riveting. Great journalism and a well produced podcast. I wanted more episodes after I finished!
ADvis157

Brilliant!

Excellent true crime drama. Riveting! I wish the kangaroo court in France had not convicted him based on emotions and rhetoric. I hope a breakthrough in this case happens one day for all parties involved. Especially Sophie.
screaming barricuda

Stopped caring

Just lost interest- the accents are awful- the suspect and his woman look exactly like you imagine
ebows22

So incredibly well done

Just brilliant. West Cork has the best sound design I’ve heard in any podcast. Wonderfully written and reported. So many podcasts in this genre feel exhibitionist, but Jennifer and Sam seem completely earnest in trying to understand what happened. They do a beautiful job of honoring Sophie’s memory while taking care to address issues of domestic violence and the shortcomings of the initial investigation. Well worth a close listen!
Louma76

Fascinating

Captivating, well told murder mystery, but even more fascinating case study on sociopathy and domestic violence dynamics. If you work in mental health or the justice system, definitely worth a long, close listen.
Bball&vball gurl!!:)

Worth the listen!

Definitely a podcast I wish I could go back and listen to for the first time all over again! Love, love, love!
Dfreecity55

Incredible Reporting

A woven tapestry of human behavior surrounding a most dreadful crime. Karmic ties run very deep here. Marvelous storytelling.#justice for Sophie
hazelbnr

Poetically told

This podcast feels like a labor of love for those involved in the writing, production, narration, music sound quality. Thank you! The very few critical reviews read biased, and simply off the mark.
GothamGargoyle

Her name was Sophie.

If Ireland can not provide Justice for Sophie Toscan du Plantier, at minimum we should remember that SHE is the important part of this case. Really appreciated the community members who try to keep the victim in the foreground. Several deeply troubled personalities collided in wake of Sophie’s murder. The series does a fine job illustrating the veritable S*!# storm of grandiose type B personality disorders and unapologetic, inveterate lying that hijacked any substantive effort to find justice for Sophie and her family. It does not paint a sympathetic picture of Baily nor of the “eye witness”, Marie Farrell. Farrell’s repeated lies, Purjury, and flippant dismissal of the pain she’s caused Sophie’s family were grotesque in the extreme. It certainly left me with a dim view of how domestic violence is handled and wondering how truly awful one has to be before they are prosecuted for perjury and obstruction of justice (looking at you, Farrell) in Ireland.
Danny Boy100

Poor Sophie . . .

What bad luck — if you were to be murdered, you could only hope you were not French, had vacationed in West Cork, be beaten to death and your case left in the hands of the Keystone-like cops in a small town in Ireland whose inhabitants read like an 18th century farce. But fate cannot be undone. (Sigh, poor Sophie.)
Cheetah101

Wish I could go back in time and listen again

I mean, a hands down 5 star podcast. Brilliant storytelling, narration, and beyond perfect sound design. An absolutely phenomenal example of what an investigative podcast should be.
malcomb x

Independent reporting???

When talking about the alleged murder suspect, Ian Bailey, and his frequent calls to “backseat direct” their podcast. They state his calls could sometimes be annoying but sometimes easier to go with it. Easier to go with it?? Why are you appeasing someone directly linked to the story and who obviously has his own biases? So much for independent reporting
Ada Monroe

West Cork

Watch the Netflix instead. See the people.
catti06783

On episode 9

This has a lot of detail and interviews with folks involved, a well produced podcast! Thank you hoping this case will move forward
Daisy Joan

Really Good Series

Riveting! Well produced!
Ld11122

Love it

Very good crime podcast.
Ava199177

Excellent

Excellent storytelling
turtle_girl86

Absolutely Captivating!

Very well done. The story kept me hook from beginning to end. RIP Sophie.
rda0609

Great story telling

The reporting is excellent. I don’t know if the suspect is guilty or not but he is a horrible person and so full of himself. It’s funny how everyone is lying but him. Looking forward to the next story
Sallysjc

Beautifully told

This sad story is so beautifully told that I may have to listen again. Thank you.
FishgirlFishgirl

Love It

The production is excellent and the story is well told.
izzi.vee

5/5

My 3rd time listening to this! The editing, production and story is thrilling and well investigated. Thank you for keeping Sophie’s memory alive!
infamous IA

Frame ups happen everywhere.

I thought that only American police are horrible scum but it turns out they are dishonest horrible people everywhere. I don’t understand why reporters still talk to them like everything they say is gospel. These cops are obviously trying to frame this guy. Everything they did in this case was backwards. He is our killer cause he is a weird person, and then they try to fit evidence to their conclusion. Classic frame up
Trumandogmu

Disappointing

I wanted to like this more than I did. It seemed to go on and on to the point where I thought perhaps it would be a good one to listen to while I am trying to go to sleep at night. At first I was brought in by the lovely accents but that really is about all I got out of the story. It should have been edited much more tightly. Six episodes would’ve been about right.
KQ831

Excellent True Crime

If you enjoy true crime that looks at every possible angle while searching for justice for the victim, this one’s for you.
Madsss

Give it a listen!

One of my favorite podcasts of all time, IMO on par with Serial. A deep look at a brutal murder, the horrifyingly captivating suspect, and the culture and country that fueled the fixation on this small town
Nyxlipso

Lacking

While the production value is amazing, the story itself isn’t worth the time. It’s too tedious. The narrators haven’t told me why I should care.
The Ciceronian

Tedious and gives oxygen to an egomaniac

This podcast gets high marks for production quality and the sincerity of the hosts, but the story itself is tedious, frustrating, and ultimately pointless. Really it’s the story of a narcissist named Ian Bailey. If you’re fine contributing to this blowhard’s self-aggrandizement then listen away. Along the way you’ll hear some lovely accents and be treated to the keystone cops escapades of the investigators, before being asked at the very end to find some sad poignancy in the whole mess of it, which is just the sort of claptrap these narratives tend to enjoy wallowing in. In short, a sentimentalized meandering story about a pack of liars all around, the proudest one being the arrogant and abusive sod at its heart. The whole thing is exploitative, mainly of the victim, which is desperately shameful on the part of the narrators and Ian Bailey himself.
ThetrueBlu

Hellaciously interesting

Absolute best narration. This cannot end it’s just so engrossing. Gotta listen thrice to make sure I’ve taken it all in!
Tusa1023

So... he’s a psychopath

It’s hard to listen to this without jumping to conclusions. But hearing interviews with one particular person is very damning. That person is fitting a very specific profile.
Ace :p.

Captivating

This one was told so well by all involved. A truly riveting albeit sad and disturbing tale...
Kat135755

Forgotten lead?

As I listened to this carefully researched podcast, I wondered why no follow-up on the cab driver that took Sofia to her home from the airport was interviewed. I suspected him from the beginning.
Babshageg

Excellent Storytelling

I do wish they listed other suspects, or anyone that could have remotely been guilty other than Ian Bailey. My money is on him being guilty for sure
Ggtsgg1

I love it!

I enjoy the way this is put together, cant get enough of it!
Moxie24

Sort of interesting

I’m not sure what the point of this series is. It doesn’t uncover new information. It doesn’t illuminate any shocking or egregious problems with the process of justice unless you’re unaware that criminal investigations are often complicated and prone to human error. I hadn’t heard of this murder and now I know all about it and about how some aspects of Irish and French justice unfold... so that was sort of interesting, but there are so many other more revelatory murder/mystery podcasts out there; I’d give this one a miss unless you’ve run out of other options.
wilfulgreen

Slick

Yes it’s “ professional “,, yet..... This isn’t a story about a murder, it’s about a guy some people think did it The Irish police?!?! What’s the point in having any at all?!! Most obvious is nearly nothing about the woman who is murdered ..... what’s her name..... hours of her name barely mentioned Pointless No one looks good, nor even the “professionals”
Cgreen0328

Best storytelling I’ve heard - a must listen

Can’t stop listening. I’m an avid podcast listener and this is by far the best storytelling I’ve heard. Riveting interviews. You have me hooked. Incredible job telling Sophie’s story.
eWjoh

Uh-mazing.

Layered. Nuanced. Thorough. Deeply human.
KW2189

Exceptional Podcast!

This is very well done and so interesting to listen to as well as easy to follow! Would love for it to be solved and completed in the future! :)
Beth84749

Serial done right

Absolutely brilliant reporting. Both reporters remain unbiased throughout, allowing the listeners to come up with their own conclusions.
fandango 13

Absolutely brilliant.

Utter perfection. Journalists A+ Podcast editing A+ Enjoy!
bbj45,!!2

If you liked Bear Brook this is for you

I compare all true crime podcasts to Bear Brook and they have all been sadly lacking. Until I found West Cork. The narrators’ style and cadence is easy to listen to and engaging. Highly recommend. And if you haven’t listened to Bear Brook go find it and enjoy. I hope creators of West Brook continue to produce excellent work such as this podcast.
Steph Bean

West Cork

I hope you'll read Chet Raymo's The Dork of Cork, for a balancing story to this nightmare of a murder incident in the Cork area. The reporting here is quite effective as story telling. It's clear that the crime is so surrounded by bumbling, tripping-up and caracatures that it won't be solved. It becomes meaningless, alas. The lives become soap-opera-ish and not credible. The lead character is just wack-o. The spouse has been abused for so long, and is so attached to her abusive situation that there's no way up. Sad all around. Well done, in this telling, though.