Murder case witness says gardaí harassed children

MARIE Farrell, a key witness who sensationally withdrew statements she made during the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation, claimed yesterday that Garda intimidation was forcing her and her family to relocate to the midlands.

The 43-year-old alleged that some of her children, who range in age from 12 to 20, have recently been “harassed and intimidated” by gardaí.

She again claimed yesterday that pressure was also put on her by some gardaí not to retract a statement she made in relation to Ian Bailey, a self-confessed suspect in the 10-year investigation.

It is believed Ms Farrell, who made a complaint to the Director of Public Prosecutions about alleged unfair treatment from gardaí, has named five officers.

Earlier this week, she met a new investigation team at Garda headquarters in Cork to discuss her alleged harassment claims, with a second meeting planned for next week.

Shortly after the murder, the mother-of-five alleged that she saw, in the early hours of December 23, 1996, freelance journalist Mr Bailey at Kealfadda Bridge, close to the French woman’s West Cork holiday home. The body was later found at 10.30am.

Ms Farrell repeated the allegation in 2003 at a circuit court libel case in Cork taken by Mr Bailey against six Irish and British newspaper groups, but she retracted the allegation two years later.

Gardaí have strenuously denied her claims of harassment and intimidation.

The Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy ordered an investigation on foot of her claims. Ms Farrell said she met with the investigation team at Anglesea Street Garda Station by appointment on Wednesday afternoon.

The team, led by Detective Superintendent John McKeown, spent four hours talking to her. Ms Farrell said she was helping to “clarify a few issues”.

The investigation team spoke to her after she provided them with a lengthy statement about events since Ms du Plantier was found murdered at her home in Schull in 1996.

“I will be meeting again with them again next Thursday. I expect that meeting will go on all day,” Ms Farrell said.

“I am co-operating with them fully.”

She alleged that harassment of her family had continued until two weeks ago.

“We’re moving out of Schull because of the hassle the kids are getting. We’re going to Longford,” she said.

Gardaí are still searching for Ms du Plantier’s killer.