Bailey damages action to open today

Journalist Ian Bailey’s action for damages against the State over alleged wrongful arrest in connection with the 1996 murder in West Cork of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier is expected to formally open before a High Court jury today.

Among other allegations being made by Mr Bailey is that gardaí conspired to manufacture evidence in producing witnesses to say Mr Bailey was at a place which he was not, his counsel Tom Creed told the jury panel earlier yesterday.

The jury sworn in to hear the action, expected to last six weeks, was sent away yesterday afternoon while legal discussions continued in their absence.