Ian Bailey lodges appeal against failed High Court decision

The solicitor acting for journalist, Ian Bailey has confirmed that his client has lodged an appeal against the outcome of his unsuccessful High Court action against the State in relation to his arrest over the murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Frank Buttimer confirmed that Mr Bailey has lodged an appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision in the High Court last March when a jury found that gardaí had not conspired to falsely implicate him in the murder or that they had induced a witness into making a false complaint of harassment against him.

Mr Bailey (58) was twice arrested for questioning over the murder in 1996 but was released without charge on each occasion.

Confirmation that Mr Bailey has begun an appeal comes as a team of French detectives begin a second week of interviews in West Cork as part of an investigation into the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier.

Ms Toscan du Plantier (39) had been on a visit to her holiday home at Dreenane, Toomore near Schull when she was attacked and bludgeoned to death on the early hours of December 23rd and her body was found on the track leading to the house the following morning.

The three man French team arrived in Cork last Monday and began interviewing witness last Tuesday as part of a French investigation by Paris based magistrate, Judge Patrick Gachon into the near 20 year old murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier.

It is understood the team have so far met nine witnesses, who made statements to the original Garda investigation, at various garda stations in West Cork where they have recorded the interviews but they want to meet six more witness this week to help Judge Gachon complete his investigation.

The visit is the second by the French investigation team and follows a visit by five police officers, including forensic specialists, in October 2011 when they met and interviewed approximately 30 witnesses in the case and it follows a earlier visit in June 2009 by Judge Gachon when he visited the murder scene.