Bailey's solicitor contacted by two more people

Two other people apart from Schull shopkeeper Marie Farrell have made statements to a solicitor acting for Ian Bailey, it emerged yesterday.

Their statements may have implications for the Garda review of investigations into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier on December 23rd, 1996.

The Irish Times has learned that one of the individuals has made a statement to solicitor Frank Buttimer, which calls into question some of the activities of gardaí in their investigation into the murder of the French woman.

The information given by the second person is understood to relate to the libel action brought by Mr Bailey against eight newspapers, but Mr Buttimer last night refused to comment.

He said a statement by Mrs Farrell to gardaí in January 1997 that she saw Mr Bailey at Kealfadda Bridge on the night Ms du Plantier was murdered was crucial to Mr Bailey's arrest on February 10th, 1997.

"It now transpires as a result of contacts which Mrs Farrell made with me and statements I have taken from her that those. . . statements [to the Garda] were not in any way accurate," Mr Buttimer said, "that she in effect now denies the entire basis on which Mr Bailey was arrested."

The solicitor confirmed that his letter to the Minister for Justice and to the Garda Commissioner also included complaints about the manner of Mr Bailey's arrest and the way "he was blazed across the media while he was still in the station and subsequently".

Attempts by The Irish Times to contact Mr Bailey at his home at Liscaha, Schull, yesterday were unsuccessful. His partner, Jules Thomas, referred any queries to Mr Buttimer.

"Mr Bailey is very relieved that Mrs Farrell has had the courage to come forward on this matter and that his innocence will be clearly established and accepted," Mr Buttimer said, reiterating that Mrs Farrell's approach to him was entirely unsolicited.

"Up until the time Mrs Farrell made this very honourable and honest approach, she would have been somebody whom we could not have had contact with. She rang me and I spoke to her.

"There was absolutely no question of intimidation or duress on our part."

Mrs Farrell refused to comment and she referred any questions to her solicitor, Donal Daly. "I am absolutely satisfied that Mrs Farrell's decision to withdraw the statements implicating Mr Ian Bailey in the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier has nothing to do with anything except a desire to tell the truth," Mr Daly said.

He said he had advised Mrs Farrell that she might face criminal charges such as perjury but she was adamant that she wanted to withdraw her statement.