Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy yesterday appointed an assistant commissioner to review the handling of the Garda inquiry into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier after receiving a letter expressing concerns about the case from a solicitor representing Ian Bailey.
After he got the letter from solicitor Frank Buttimer, Mr Conroy appointed Assistant Commissioner Ray McAndrew to review the Garda inquiry into the murder of the French film producer and furnish a report on it.
Supt Kevin Donohoe of the Garda Press Office said Mr McAndrew would examine a number of allegations made by Mr Buttimer in his letter after key witness, Marie Farrell confirmed that statements she made to gardaí during the inquiry were false.
Mrs Farrell had said in January 1997 that she saw Mr Bailey at Kealfadda Bridge at 3am on December 23rd, 1996 over a mile from where Ms Toscan du Plantier was murdered on the same night, but she has now confirmed that statement was false.
Supt Donohoe said the investigation of the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier at her holiday home at Toormore near Schull remained active and the Garda's objective was to bring her killer to justice.
"We have received a letter from Mr Buttimer, dated October 11th, on behalf of his client Ian Bailey. There are certain allegations in that letter relating to the investigation and that's been referred to Assistant Commissioner McAndrew in Cork city to examine and report back to the Commissioner."
The Garda inquiry into the murder involved gardaí interviewing up to 250 people but according to Garda sources, the review is likely to begin with an interview of Mrs Farrell about her allegations.
"It's very hard at this stage to predict how long or how many people are going to be interviewed - the actual scope and sequence of the review is likely to be determined very much by what Mrs Farrell says to us," said a Garda source.
According to another Garda source, Mr McAndrew - who led the internal Garda inquiry into disciplinary matters in Donegal following allegations of Garda corruption - is likely to begin the review within days.
"He's likely to have a small high-powered team - almost certainly drawn from outside Cork - probably two chief superintendents and a superintendent - that's the way he likes to work, with a small, tight team that works closely together," said the Garda source.
Supt Liam Horgan of Bantry Garda station - who heads the Garda investigation into Ms Toscan du Plantier's murder - welcomed the announcement that Mr McAndrew would conduct a review of their handling of the case.
"These are very very serious allegations which have been made and the whole matter needs to be investigated thoroughly and the sooner the better," he said.
Local West Cork GRA representative Pat O'Sullivan said his members welcomed the review and, if necessary, they would also support a full tribunal of inquiry.
Last night, Mr Buttimer, speaking on behalf of Mr Bailey, said his client welcomed the commissioner's early response and Mr Buttimer said he would correspond with Mr Conroy's office in the coming days.
Solicitor for Mrs Farrell, Donal Daly said his client had nothing to fear from the establishment of an independent, impartial investigation into the case and would willingly co-operate with the inquiry if it operated on an independent, impartial and judicial basis.
