Ian Bailey has revealed he has been given more time to find a new home after he was served with a notice of eviction.
In March it was revealed the English journalist who was questioned in relation to the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier received a notice to leave before Christmas but was able to remain at his one-bedroom apartment in Bantry due to the eviction moratorium.
However, since the ban was lifted by the Government he was told he has to leave his rented accommodation by the beginning of May as it is understood the landlord wishes to sell the property.
But we can reveal Bailey has been given an extension as he struggles to find a new place to rent.
READ MORE: Ian Bailey 'lured into attack by TikTok fans' as gardai quiz two men
He told us: "I got served with a notice of termination of tenancy but my benevolent landlord has given me a fair bit of time to find somewhere else."
Asked if he has found anywhere to live, he said: "It’s desperate. It’s absolutely desperate, nothing.
"I take it a day at a time. Nobody knows about the future."
The 64-year-old, who has started a new podcast Ian Bailey: In My Own Words, became homeless in 2020 when he was evicted from the house he shared with his former long-term partner, artist Jules Thomas. He found temporary emergency accommodation provided by Cork County Council before finding a small flat near Bantry.
He said he’s received huge support from the public since leaving Schull.
"I get a lot of support from a lot of people. I’ve taken to TikTok in a big way. I do shout-outs for people. Most of them are for charity or a small fee for €15."
Mr Bailey regards himself as a former suspect in the Sophie case following the launch of a Garda cold case review into the high-profile 1996 murder last year.
Gardai now privately classify him as a "person of interest" in the case, however, he has so far not been interviewed as part of the cold case review.
He told us: "No, not at all. I called for the cold case review in the first place, and I am perfectly happy to cooperate any way I can if they want to speak to me again."
It is understood detectives are following up on new leads from west Cork, Britain and France. Garda officers are expected to fly to Paris later this year to follow up on enquiries there. Ian Bailey has always denied killing Sophie and maintains to this day that he never knew her.
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