Bailey launches libel-action appeal in Cork

English journalist Ian Bailey was made a suspect in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier through garda corruption it was claimed by his legal team today as he launched a High Court appeal of his failed libel action against newspaper coverage of the French woman’s murder in West Cork ten years ago.

Three years ago Judge Patrick J. Moran ruled at Cork Circuit Court at that time that there was nothing defamatory in the coverage of Mr Bailey, the 50-year-old English journalist, that linked him to the murder of the French woman in Schull.

Today, Mr Bailey began his appeal in front of Mr Justice Brian McGovern at the High Court in Cork and it is expected that the case could last up to four weeks.

The appeal in this libel case is against The Daily Telegraph, The Times (and Sunday Times) Irish Sunday Independent, Independent on Sunday and The Star.

Tom Creed senior counsel said: “He was made a suspect on the basis of corruption by An Garda Síochána. He was arrested on foot of a corrupted statement among other things.

“A witness who suggested that Mr Bailey was seen at a bridge near Ms du Plantier’s home has since recanted publicly and indicated that she was put under pressure by members of An Garda Síochána to say Mr Bailey was the person.

“He (Mr Bailey) says he was the subject of being dealt with by an Agent Provocateur by An Garda Síochána. He will say an individual was paid with money and drugs to attempt to get him to admit information.

"Mr Bailey knew what was going on. Mr Bailey taped him. This is the background to what was

going on here.”

Ms du Plantier was murdered two days before Christmas in 1996 and in one account of her death read in the High Court yesterday, the victim was clubbed over the head at least a dozen times from behind, her face was covered in blood and a concrete block was dropped on her head.

No attempt was made to conceal her dead body.

The appeal in this libel action is brought against The Daily Telegraph, Times (and Sunday Times) Irish Sunday Independent, Independent on Sunday and The Star.