Garda wanted to put pressure on DPP to charge Bailey, court hears

Marie Farrell has said a garda detective investigating the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier told her they needed to put pressure on the DPP to get Ian Bailey charged.

The shopkeeper from Schull, Co Cork is giving evidence in the former journalist's action against the State and garda authorities for alleged wrongful arrest in connection with the murder of the French film producer.

The jury has been hearing a series of garda statements made by Marie Farrell in 1997 and 1998 alleging that Ian Bailey was harassing and threatening her.

The statements claim she was terrified of the former journalist - that he had phoned her house, made cut throat gestures and repeatedly asked her to withdraw her allegation that she had seen him on the road on the morning Sophie Toscan du Plantier was murdered.

Marie Farrell has told the jury these claims were all false and were made up at the behest of Det Gda Jim Fitzgerald.

The jury's heard the detective told her that her statements were necessary to build up a file making Ian Bailey look threatening in order to put pressure on the DPP to charge him.