World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
Paul Barril, GIGN co-founder, dies at 80
Paul Barril died at 80 on Tuesday, 20 October, the GIGN said the next day.
He was a French gendarme who helped create the GIGN in 1974, serving as its second-in-command.
The unit is an elite force within France’s national gendarmerie.
After leaving the GIGN, Barril moved into private security and advised several leaders, particularly in Africa.
His career was marked by two French political scandals: the arrest of three Irish people in Vincennes and illegal wiretaps at the Élysée Palace.
He was given a suspended six-month prison sentence and a fine in 2005 over the wiretap case.
He also faced allegations linked to Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, including claims that he supplied weapons, which he denied; he died after years of illness, and no further proceedings are described.
Paul Barril, co-founder of France’s GIGN elite gendarmerie unit, died at 80, according to the GIGN.
He died on Tuesday, 20 October, and the news was reported on Wednesday.
Barril helped create the GIGN in 1974 and served as its deputy.
He later worked in private security and advised several leaders, including in Africa.
His career was marked by scandals and scrutiny over his role in events connected to the Rwanda genocide.
- Who
- Paul Barril, a former gendarme and co-founder of the GIGN.
- What
- He died at the age of 80.
- When
- Tuesday, 20 October 2026; the GIGN confirmed the news on Wednesday.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated. He had been ill for many years and had said he had Parkinson’s disease.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Barril took part in the creation of the GIGN under Christian Prouteau.
Barril became interim head of the GIGN.
A Paris court sentenced Barril to a suspended six-month prison term and a €5,000 fine in the Élysée wiretapping case.
Barril was placed under the status of assisted witness in an investigation related to the Rwanda genocide.
Barril died at the age of 80.
- Age at death
- 80
- GIGN founded
- 1974
- Birthplace
- Vinay, Isère
- Death reported
- 21 October 2026
- Élysée wiretapping sentence
- Six months suspended and a €5,000 fine
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What people are saying
I would ultimately have liked simply to finish as a gendarmerie general
enough to blow up the Republic