Farrell 'felt under pressure' when interviewed

A KEY witness involved in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation is now claiming she felt under pressure when interviewed by police.

Marie Farrell has alleged that she felt under pressure when questioned by gardaí because she feared her husband might learn of an extra-marital affair - described by her as a brief non-sexual liaison. Ms Farrell and the man with whom she was having the relationship were driving at Kilfeada Bridge near Schull on December 23 1996, the night Ms du Plantier was murdered.

Last week, Ms Farrell withdrew her evidence placing the chief suspect, English journalist Ian Bailey, at the scene of the crime. She now alleges that, while she did see a man at the bridge, it was not Mr Bailey, who has always insisted he was at home at the time.

According to Ms Farrell, the man she was with on the night has since died and she and her husband are reconciled with the liaison.

Ms Farrell had telephoned the garda confidential telephone line saying she had seen a person on the bridge on the night but did not name whom she saw.

She later contacted Bandon Garda Station, again anonymously, after an appeal for her to make contact with police was made on RTÉ's Crimeline but insisted she would not be putting herself forward as a witness.

A short time afterwards, gardaí called to her shop and said they knew she was the woman who called them about Kilfeada Bridge and wanted to interview her further.

"Why was it that the police did not respect the confidentiality of their own confidential telephone line?" Frank Buttimer, Mr Bailey's solicitor, asked yesterday.

Last week Mr Buttimer wrote to Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy and Justice Minister Michael McDowell outlining the change in Ms Farrrell's evidence and seeking an investigation into the handling of the case by gardaí.

Commissioner Conroy has appointed Assistant Commissioner Ray McAndrew to investigate the claims made in the letter.

Mr Buttimer said Ms Farrell contacted him earlier this year and said she did not identify Mr Bailey as the man she saw on the bridge. He urged her to seek independent legal advice.

Ms Farrell's solicitor, Donal Daly, confirmed yesterday that Ms Farrell saw Mr Buttimer in April and met him on several occasions afterwards.

"She came to him totally unsolicited and out of the blue as such," said Mr Daly.

"As a result of what she told him he suggested that she should contact a criminal lawyer who would give her detailed advice on the potential consequences of what could come about as a result of her making the statements to him."

Ms Farrell came to Mr Daly about two weeks ago and despite being warned by him about the possible consequences of what she was proposing, she went ahead and confirmed the contents of Mr Buttimer's letters were correct.

"This was done prior to Mr Buttimer sending the letters to the garda commissioner and the minister," he confirmed.