I'll write $A^\prime$, $B^\prime$, $C^\prime$ (instead of $I_1$, $I_2$, $I_3$) for the excenters opposite respective vertices $A$, $B$, $C$. The relation you mention can then be written as
$$|\overline{IX^\prime}| = 4 R \sin\frac{X}{2} \tag{$\star$}$$
for $X = A$, $B$, $C$. Now, observe that $\overline{BB^\prime}$ and $\overline{CC^\prime}$ cross at $I$, so that
$$\angle B^\prime IC^\prime = \angle BIC = 180^\circ - \frac{1}{2}B - \frac{1}{2}C$$
By the Law of Cosines in $\triangle B^\prime I C^\prime$ and $(\star)$, we have
$$\begin{align}
|\overline{B^\prime C^\prime}|^2 &= |\overline{IB^\prime}|^2 + |\overline{IC^\prime}|^2 - 2 |\overline{IB^\prime}||\overline{IC^\prime}|\cos\angle B^\prime I C^\prime \\[4pt]
&= 16 R^2 \left(\sin^2 \frac{B}{2} + \sin^2\frac{C}{2}- 2 \sin\frac{B}{2}\sin\frac{C}{2} \cos\left(180^\circ - \frac{1}{2}B - \frac{1}{2}C\right)\right) \\[4pt]
&= 16 R^2 \left( \sin^2 \frac{B}{2} + \sin^2\frac{C}{2}+ 2 \sin\frac{B}{2}\sin\frac{C}{2} \cos\frac{B+C}{2} \right) \\[4pt]
&= 16 R^2 \sin^2\frac{B+C}{2} \\[4pt]
&= 16 R^2 \cos^2\frac{A}{2}
\end{align}$$
Consequently,
$$|\overline{IA^\prime}|^2 + |\overline{B^\prime C^\prime}|^2 = 16 R^2 \sin^2 \frac{A}{2} + 16 R^2 \cos^2 \frac{A}{2} = 16 R^2$$
I suspect there's a more-direct route to this result.