Witness in Bailey case claims she is being harassed

Gardaí are investigating claims that Mr Ian Bailey harassed a key witness in his libel trial who said she saw him acting suspiciously on the morning of the murder of Ms Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Ms Marie Farrell said Mr Bailey had parked outside her house in recent weeks and approached her to say he would cross-examine her himself during his appeal against the libel ruling.

Ms Farrell, who impressed Judge Patrick J Moran with her evidence during the libel case last year, said she felt frightened as a result of Mr Bailey's actions. "I feel very afraid. My life has changed in that I feel I don't have the freedom I had before," she told RTÉ's News At One.

Ms Farrell said Mr Bailey drove up to her recently and said: "The next time I'll represent myself and then I will cross-examine you." She said he then laughed at her and drove away. She made a statement to the gardaí who told her to contact them if anything else happened.

The former freelance journalist could not be contacted yesterday to comment on the fresh allegations. Ms Farrell told the libel trial that she saw Mr Bailey at a bridge, close to the scene of the murder in the early hours of the morning in December 1996.

Ms Farrell also told the judge that Mr Bailey had intimidated her on several occasions by making cut-throat gestures at her after she gave evidence to gardaí.