On the market: coffee and snacks from Bailey’s boot

IAN BAILEY, who draws the dole, set up a market stall at the weekend.

The man who was twice arrested by gardaí and questioned about the killing of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, laid out his wares at Schull market, in Co Cork.

But, according to local sources, not many people were interested in spending money at Mr Bailey’s stall, which had items such as coffee and organic snacks and handmade, wooden coat hooks on offer.

In a high-profile Cork Circuit Court case judged in January last, Judge Patrick Moran ruled in favour of six of eight newspapers sued by Mr Bailey for defamation.

Judge Moran found that the articles, which had said Mr Bailey was the chief suspect for the murder of Ms du Plantier in December 1996, were justified.

He found in favour of Mr Bailey in relation to one allegation contained in articles published by two newspapers which claimed he had been violent towards his former wife.

Judge Moran found no evidence was brought to support this contention in articles in the Sun and the Irish Mirror, and he awarded Mr Bailey damages of €4,000 against each of them.

Mr Bailey was ordered to pay the legal costs of five of the seven papers he sued, a total of €200,000.

He was awarded half his costs against the two which were found to have libelled him but Mr Bailey still faces a huge bill.

Ms du Plantier’s badly beaten body was found outside her holiday home at Toormore near Schull on December 23, 1997.