Garda watchdog to probe conduct of Bailey case

The Garda Ombudsman has launched an investigation into how gardaí handled the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder probe.

The move by the Garda watchdog will ratchet up tensions in a highly-charged case, aspects of which are being examined by the Supreme Court.

The decision followed a complaint of alleged garda misconduct by journalist Ian Bailey, who has repeatedly denied he killed the film producer near her holiday home in Schull, West Cork, on Dec 23, 1996.