Sophie: A Murder in West Cork

Such a picturesque town! And a sad story. I felt for her son.

I'm not sure why we didn't get more information about her husband.

There was some missing information but all in all a well done documentary that was interesting from beginning to end. I like that it was only 3 episodes and didn't drag on.

This kind of documentary show needs more appreciation. The crews interviewed many eye witnesses, dug old footages and even went back and forth between Ireland and French to show what happened.

It also shows no bias. All were interviewed. All available documents were presented. Two sides of the coin were covered so that audience don't have any doubt whatsoever, or or vice versa, even more doubtful?!

Netflix new thing is dragging out a 20min criminal storyline into 3h of nature videos and circulating the same 15 photos of the victim.

I felt incredible sadness for the family of Sophie, and also the betrayal by the judicial system in Ireland. From the DPP who wouldn't prosecute and dismissed domestic violence as "one of those things that happen", to the incompetence and corruption of the Gardia, and even the attitude of the Coroner who didn't arrive on the murder scene until days later. Maybe the murder of a woman didn't warrant a speedy response. Also, the self serving 'key witness' who was out with her ex-boyfriend that night, but felt her own welfare came above the murder of an innocent woman when it came to her conflicting statements. I found the partner of Ian Bailey blinded by the extreme violence and abuse suffered at the hands of the 'poet' and maybe if she hadn't stuck by him for so long, justice would have been served. Mostly, I found the egotistical, angry, self indulgence of Ian Bailey the hardest thing to stomach. Here we have a violent man, with extreme sexual fantasies, lying to the audience in a vain attempt to attract pity. Where is the justice for Sophie, and how can a community life with such a man?

An excellent example of police incompetence coupled with the tendency for male-oriented power structures to protect men guilty of crimes against women. The documentary was generally well done (with one major flaw). The outcome was depressing. Sadly, people don't understand or recognize mental illness. That was the flaw in the series, as the accused's mental illness was plain for many in the audience to see, yet it was never addressed in any way. I will never see Ireland quite the same way.