A freelance journalist has had some items returned to him which had been seized by gardai investigating a murder in west Cork, it emerged at Bandon District Court yesterday.
Solicitor Mr Con Murphy, for Mr Ian Bailey (44), asked Judge James O'Connor to adjourn an application by Mr Bailey under the Police Property Act 1897 to recover documents and other items seized from him by gardai.
"Some of the materials have been returned and if it was adjourned further, it would suit everybody - we might advance the matter further," added Mr Murphy as Garda Insp Pat Maher agreed to have the application adjourned to October 6th.
Last April when Mr Bailey and his partner, Ms Jules Thomas, first applied to get back the property, Insp Liam Horgan told Judge O'Connor they were seized by gardai following a search of Mr Bailey's property near Schull on January 27th, 1998.
Insp Horgan told the original hearing that it was important that gardai retained possession of the items as part of their continuing murder investigation. "The retention of the property is important because I believe it will be of evidential value." He believed "most if not all" of the books, diaries and items of clothing seized "would be used as exhibits", ad ding that Mr Bailey had got back some of the items in April 1998.
Mr Murphy said his client wanted back his books and diaries for his work as a freelance journalist. "Gardai say they want them for an ongoing investigation - I say they have had them for more enough time," Mr Murphy told the hearing in April.