Bailey dramatically withdraws appeal in libel case

Ian Bailey has withdrawn his appeal against a number of newspapers in a libel case concerning their reporting of the murder of Frenchwoman Sophie Tuscon du Plantier in West Cork.

Ian Bailey has withdrawn his appeal against a number of newspapers in a libel case concerning their reporting of the murder of Frenchwoman Sophie Toscon du Plantier in West Cork.

The appeal came to a spectacular and sudden end at the High Court in Cork today when Brendan Nix, senior counsel for Mr Bailey, said he was withdrawing his claim against all defendants.

Mr Nix said the defendant newspapers confirmed "nothing in any of these articles was ever intended to suggest that Ian Bailey murdered Sophie Toscon du Plantier. The defendants are not saying now, nor did they ever say that he was a murderer."

The defendants will pay a contribution to Mr Bailey's legal costs but, crucially, no damages.

Mr Bailey (aged 50) lost his libel action against The Daily Telegraph, Times (and Sunday Times) Irish Sunday Independent, Independent on Sunday and The Star, three years ago and undertook this appeal in the High Court, where Mr Justice Brian McGovern is presiding at Courtroom Four in the Washington Street courthouse in Cork.