Witness to withdraw key allegation against Bailey
This has prompted a call for the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to launch an enquiry into the case.
Marie Farrell, who testified during a libel action by Ian Bailey that she saw him at Kealfadda Bridge on the night Mme Du Plantier was murdered, now states that this, and other statements, were incorrect.
Her solicitor, Donal Daly, said yesterday: “The instructions she has given us are to the effect that the central allegation which she made linking Mr Bailey to this murder is incorrect.
“She has come forward now because she has been under considerable stress and pressure for many years with this matter. It has been a cause of great pressure and distress and worry to herself and her family. She wishes to come clean about the allegation she has made. The only way she has of relieving the stress is to come out and tell the truth.”
Mr Bailey’s solicitor, Frank Buttimer, has written to the Justice Minister and the Garda Commissioner asking them to enquire into the case. Yesterday, he confirmed Ms Farrell approached his office voluntarily and was interviewed by him about the case.
“As a result of the information she has now given to me I have, on behalf of my client, Mr Bailey, forwarded a letter, on October 11, to the Minister for Justice and to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, giving certain details of the matters raised by Mrs Farrell with me.
“The information she has furnished confirms any reference in any of the statements she made concerning Mr Bailey is certainly incorrect. She has withdrawn all allegations which she has heretofore made against Mr Bailey in any of the statements she has made.
“The purpose of the letter is to bring these facts to the attention of the minister and the garda authorities to enable an enquiry to be made into what is now being said, bearing in mind that at all times Mr Bailey has maintained his absolute innocence of any involvement in this dreadful crime.”
Ms Du Plantier was murdered on December 23, 1996, near her home in Schull. Mr Bailey of The Prairie, Schull, brought an unsuccessful libel action against newspaper coverage linking him to the case in December 2003.
