The main suspect in the murder of Father Olivier Maire in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre (Vendée) would be the one accused of the fire of the Nantes cathedral in July 2020. His arrest is strongly criticized since the individual was subject to an obligation . to leave the territory.
Many right-wing and extreme-right politicians denounced this afternoon the suspect’s irregular situation, while pointing out the “laxity” and “the bankruptcy of the State.” “In France, therefore, we can be illegal, burn down the Nantes cathedral, never be expelled and repeat murdering a priest,” Marine Le Pen said in particular on Twitter.
What an indignity! Instead of expressing her compassion to the Catholics who took in this murderer, Madame le Pen argues without knowing the facts: this foreigner was not deportable despite his deportation order until judicial control was lifted. https://t.co/eZh3r4OdJr
– Gerald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) August 9, 2021
In fact, since his illegal arrival in France in 2012, the man has been subject to three obligations to leave the territory (OQTF). Two were annulled by the courts in 2016 and 2017. As for the third, pronounced after the Nantes cathedral fire in July 2020, it was prevented by the judicial control to which it was subjected in the framework of the investigation. a future test. In particular, he had to be at the disposal of the investigating judges for any questioning.
VSAs Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin noted on Twitter, “this foreigner was not deportable despite his deportation order until judicial control was lifted.”
In other words, their placement under judicial supervision temporarily prevented the enforcement of this deportation order.
In recent months, the suspect had asked the Montfort missionary community, chaired by the victim, Father Olivier Maire, to take him in as part of their judicial control. He had been staying there since June. But in July, his state of health had led him to be admitted to a psychiatric environment. He was released on July 29.