Ex-garda rejects claim Bailey was an early suspect

A witness yesterday rejected suggestions gardaí must have believed their investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier had gone “into orbit” after they identified Marie Farrrell as the anonymous caller who claimed she had seen a man in a long black coat running on the road near Schull hours before the body was found.

Jim Fitzgerald denied gardaí must have suspected, before they met Ms Farrell on January 28, 1997, when she confirmed she was the anonymous caller, Ian Bailey was possibly the man she had seen on the road near Schull on the night of December 22/23, 1996.

He also denied Ms Farrell was told on January 28 gardaí knew Mr Bailey had killed Ms du Plantier and would kill again.