Du Plantier report finalised

The team investigating the withdrawal of key statements in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation is finalising its report this week.

The report is expected to be submitted to the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, and the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, within the next 10 days.

The investigation was set up in October 2005 after key statements made to gardaí by Marie Farrell relating to the murder were withdrawn.

The former Schull shopkeeper made statements in early 1997 saying that she had seen Ian Bailey at Kealfadda Bridge, close to the home of the murdered French woman, in the early hours of December 23, 1996.

Mr Bailey is now appealing against a court decision in 2003 to dismiss cases he had taken against the Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Sunday Times, the Sunday Independent, The Independent on Sunday and The Star for their coverage of the murder case.

The appeal will start in the High Court, sitting in Cork, on February 13.

The star prosecution witness of the original libel trial, Marie Farrell, is unlikely to appear at the upcoming appeal.

She received confirmation today that Mr Bailey’s team would not be calling her to give evidence, and she does not expect to be called to appear as a witness for the newspapers this time.

Article courtesy of The Evening Echo newspaper.