Reaction/west Cork: Residents in the west Cork area described yesterday's ruling "as a vindication for the community" after the judge accepted evidence given by locals which contradicted key aspects of Mr Ian Bailey's claims.
Mr Peter Bieleski, who gave evidence during the case, said many people were relieved at the judgment and said the case had proved to be a difficult ordeal for many locals called to give evidence.
"These people have been vindicated. I told the truth, we all told the truth. We stood up because we weren't telling lies," Mr Bieleski told The Irish Times.
"I thought, as many in west Cork did, that what was written was more or less fine and, if anything, had been quite conservative. It was very responsible. I didn't see anything libellous in them."
Mr Bieleski, who described himself as a "former friend of Mr Bailey", said giving evidence had been a traumatic and stressful ordeal for many locals, many of who were called as witnesses.
He also rejected suggestions that he had intimidated Mr Bailey in court during the course of the libel trial.
He was removed by Judge Patrick J. Moran after Mr Bailey claimed that Mr Bieleski was "glaring" at him in an intimidatory manner. Mr Bieleski, however, said the opposite was the case and there were witnesses to the alleged incident.
Mr Val Duffy, the former owner of the Bunratty Inn and the East End Hotel in Schull, Co Cork, said the judgment was "tremendous".
"It's like winning a football match. It's great that the evidence of local witnesses who contradicted Mr Bailey was believed. Their evidence was accepted, his wasn't. If the ruling had been the other way, it would have been devastating for everyone," Mr Duffy said.
"He was the one who brought this case, not the locals. And it has backfired.
"No one here was suing Mr Bailey, and no one was making up stories. He was the one who stuck his neck out on this."
Another neighbour of Mr Bailey, who declined to be named, expressed admiration for the judge and his ruling.
"Fair play to him, I'm delighted with him. He's done an excellent job. He had to be exceedingly careful not to be prejudiced. Who knows what developments there could be," said the neighbour.
"I know the issue of legal fees has to be decided, but I hope that the people who have worked hard on the case get paid for their hard work."
However, Mr James Camier, who runs a vegetable shop in Goleen, Co Cork and gave evidence in the trial, said the main issue of Ms Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder had still not been resolved. "There is a dark cloud over the community. There has been since the murder and it won't lift until the culprit or culprits are caught," Mr Camier said.
In all, 22 witnesses from west Cork were called to give evidence in the libel trial, many of them were called on subpoena. Around 20 of the witnesses contradicted Mr Bailey's evidence.
Yesterday, Judge Moran said he accepted evidence provided by Ms Marie Farrell, a shopkeeper, that she had seen Mr Bailey at a bridge a short distance from Ms Toscan du Plantier's house early on the morning of the murder.
He also accepted evidence from Mr Malachi Reed, along with Mr Ritchie and Mrs Rosie Shelley, that Mr Bailey had confessed to the murder.
Judge Moran also accepted evidence from two neighbours that Mr Bailey had been burning material in his garden shortly after the murder. The judge did not make reference to evidence provided by other witnesses regarding a range of other claims.