Ian Bailey case adjourned for day due to juror absence

Journalist Ian Bailey's civil action for damages against the Garda Commissioner and State over the conduct of the Garda investigaiton into the murder of French film maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier in west Cork has been adjourned to Thursday.

At the High Court, Mr Justice John Hedigan said he was adjourning the case because one of the 12 member jury was unable to attend court on Wednesday.

The judge told the other 11 jurors that all 12 members of a jury must be able to hear all the evidence and, in those circumstances, he was adjourning the hearing in the hope the case could resume before all 12 on Thursday.

He also noted a trial can proceed with just 11 or 10 jurors but the members of a jury cannot fall below ten.

The adjournment came as the cross-examination of artist Jules Thomas, Mr Bailey's long term partner, was scheduled to resume on the 13th day of the action.

She is the second witness in the action. Mr Bailey was the first and he was in the witness box for eight days, six of those under cross-examination.

In his proceedings, Mr Bailey is claiming damages, including exemplary damages, against the Garda Commissioner and State arising from the Garda investigation into the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier, whose body was found near Toormore, Schull, on December 23rd 1996.

The defendants deny Mr Bailey’s claims, including wrongful arrest and conspiracy.