A KEY WITNESS WHOSE EVIDENCE IMPLICATED IAN BAILEY IN THE MURDER OF SOPHIE TOSCAN DU PLANTIER AND WHO THEN RETRACTED THAT EVIDENCE WILL BE ASKED TO TESTIFY BEFORE A FRENCH MAGISTRATE INVESTIGATING MS DU PLANTIER'S DEATH.

NOW LIVING IN ROSCOMMON, MARIE FARRELL, A FORMER SHOPKEEPER, CLAIMED SHE SAW MR BAILEY NEAR THE FRENCH FILM PRODUCER'S REMOTE HOLIDAY HOME ON THE NIGHT THE VICTIM WAS BEATEN TO DEATH IN DECEMBER 1996.

SHE THEN SENSATIONALLY RETRACTED HER EVIDENCE NINE YEARS LATER, CLAIMING SHE IDENTIFIED HIM UNDER DURESS FROM GARDAI.

THE DPP FOUND GARDAI HAD NO CASE TO ANSWER. MS TOSCAN DU PLANTIER'S FAMILY HAVE ASKED THE FRENCH INVESTIGATING MAGISTRATE TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER IT WAS MR BAILEY WHO PRESSURED MS FARRELL TO RETRACT HER DAMAGING TESTIMONY.

WITH MR BAILEY FACING EXTRADITION TO FRANCE, WHERE HE IS WANTED FOR QUESTIONING ABOUT THE MURDER, MARIE FARRELL COULD AGAIN FIND HERSELF OCCUPYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE NOTORIOUS CASE.

ACCORDING TO TODAYS IRISH INDEPENDENT, LEGAL SOURCES CLOSE TO THE FRENCH JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION SAID THAT MS FARRELL WILL BE ASKED TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE FRENCH MAGISTRATE, JUDGE PATRICK GACHON, EVEN THOUGH HER GARDA STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN DISCREDITED.

MS FARRELL SAID THIS WEEKEND SHE HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY FRENCH AUTHORITIES, AND IS STANDING BY HER RETRACTION. CONTRARY TO HER SWORN TESTIMONY, SHE SAID THE MAN SHE SAW ON THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER WAS NOT IAN BAILEY, HE NEVER THREATENED HER AS SHE CLAIMED, AND SHE REGRETTED WHAT SHE HAD DONE.