The Garda Commissioner has called for a report on allegations made in relation to the investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier in December 1996.
Commissioner Noel Conroy directed Assistant Commissioner Ray McAndrew today to examine allegations made in a letter from solicitors acting for English journalist Ian Bailey who claimed he was defamed by news papers linking him to the 1996 murder.
Sophie Toscan Du Plantier
The letter was posted this week ahead of today's revelation in The Irish Timesthat Ms Marie Farrell claimed that statements she made to gardaí implicating the main suspect in the case were false.
Ms Farrell told Bailey's libel action in December 2003 that she had seen him at Kealfadda Bridge outside Schull at 3am on December 23rd, 1996 -
the night Ms Toscan du Plantier was murdered approximately a mile away at her holiday home at Toormore, Schull.
It is understood Ms Farrell contacted Bailey's solicitor, Frank Buttimer, in March and stated that statements she made to gardaí implicating Bailey were incorrect.
The Garda Commissioner issued a statement today in which he acknowledged receipt of a letter from Mr Frank Buttimer, solicitor for Mr Ian Bailey.
The Garda Press Office have said the murder of Ms Du Plantier was an ongoing criminal investigation and that they would not divulge any information that may impede it.