Gardaí have deferred a decision on whether to publish a review of the Garda handling of the investigation into the murder of Frenchwoman Sophie Toscan du Plantier until the Director of Public Prosecutions decides whether anyone is to be prosecuted on foot of the review.
Supt Kevin Donohoe confirmed to The Irish Timesyesterday that the review had been completed by Assistant Commissioner Ray McAndrew in the past fortnight and sent to Commissioner Noel Conroy who then forwarded it to the DPP.
The review was ordered after solicitor Frank Buttimer wrote to Mr Conroy expressing concern that his client, English journalist Ian Bailey, had been arrested on foot of a statement made by Schull shopkeeper Marie Farrell, which she later withdrew.
Ms Farrell went public in October 2005 saying that a statement that she made to gardaí that she saw Mr Bailey at Kealfadda Bridge on the night that Ms Toscan du Plantier was murdered in December 1996 was false and that she had been coerced into making it by gardaí.
Mr Buttimer said yesterday he had not been notified by gardaí that the report had been sent to the DPP but he accepted it would not be made available to him until the DPP decided on whether there are to be any prosecutions as the review had the status of a criminal inquiry.
Mr Buttimer told The Irish Timesthat Mr Bailey was pleased that progress had been made in the review but, given the complex nature of the inquiry, he expected the DPP might take some time to consider the report and decide on whether any prosecutions would follow.
While details of the review findings have not been disclosed, The Irish Timesunderstands Mr McAndrew has made no recommendations regarding prosecution but simply presented his findings.
Both Mr Bailey and Ms Farrell were interviewed a number of times by the review team in the company of their solicitors over the course of the investigation as were both serving and retired gardaí involved in the original murder investigation.
