Farrell leaves court over queries about male friend

Marie Farrell dramatically walked out of the High Court yesterday after saying she would not name the male friend she was with in the early hours of December 23, 1996.

When told by Mr Justice John Hedigan during the civil action by Ian Bailey that she must answer questions from the State about the man’s identity, the Schull shopkeeper said she would not.

“I’m sorry. I am going. I’m having nothing more to do with it,” she said, taking her coat and bag and leaving the witness box of Court No 3 at around 12pm. The court continued to hear evidence from another witness in her absence, and she returned to resume giving evidence at around 3pm.