Bailey partner seeks files ahead of damages action

Ian Bailey’s partner Jules Thomas is seeking access to state files for her action against the State for damages arising out of the Garda investigation in to the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Ms Thomas’s application for disclosure of documentation in her case against the gardaí was adjourned at the High Court yesterday.

Last month, Mr Bailey, aged 56, who has always denied any involvement in the murder of the French filmmaker outside her holiday home in West Cork in 1996, was granted orders giving him access to documents in state hands for his compensation action against the State.

As many as 20,000 documents are now being examined by state parties to assess if they are relevant to Mr Bailey’s action.

Ms Thomas is seeking a similar disclosure of documentation order already obtained by Mr Bailey.

Last month, Mr Justice John Hedigan made an order for the disclosure but the exact form of the order was to be made later, Paul O’Higgins SC, for the Garda Commissioner, told the High Court yesterday.

Mr O’Higgins said it may be possible to make an order for disclosure in the Thomas case in very similar terms to the Bailey case.

Mr Justice Hedigan agreed to adjourn the matter for three weeks.

The material being assessed for Mr Bailey includes all correspondence relating to him between former DPP Eamonn Barnes (after his retirement) and his successors, James Hamilton and Claire Loftus; the justice minister; the Attorney General; and gardaí.

He is seeking to establish the identities of gardaí who allegedly attempted to ensure his prosecution with a view to possibly subpoenaing them to give evidence in his action for damages over alleged wrongful arrest and personal injuries.