Ian Bailey's solicitor Frank Buttimer has said the former suspect in the murder of French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier will "respond appropriately" should the French authorities wish to interview him in relation to a lawsuit filed by her family for intimidation of a witness and false testimony. The Paris prosecutor's office accepted the lawsuit filed last month.

Toscan du Plantier was murdered in west Cork on 23 December 1996. Bailey was twice arrested over the murder but released without charge. French investigating magistrate Patrick Gachon reopen­ed the case recently and is awaiting the Toscan du Plantier garda file to be transferred from Dublin.

As allowed by French law, the lawsuit for intimidation was filed against anonymous persons cited as X, but it understood to target Bailey. Witness Marie Farrell initially testified she saw Bailey around 3am on the night of the murder near the home of the victim. She first claim­ed Bailey threatened her to withdraw her statement and then later claimed gardaí put pressure on her.