British journalist Mr Ian Bailey has been awarded €8,000 libel damages over press coverage of a murder investigation in which he became the prime suspect.
He was successful in two out of seven actions he took against eight Irish and British newspapers.
Judge Patrick Moran ruled that the Irish Mirrorand the Sunlibelled him in their coverage of the death of French film-maker Mrs Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was found bludgeoned to death near her home in Co Cork in December 1996. The two publications were ordered to pay Mr Bailey €4,000 each.
Mr Ian Bailey leaving court today
The Mirrorand the Sunboth reported that his first marriage in England was a violent one and that Mr Bailey had beaten his partner. Despite admitting he was sure Manchester-born Mr Bailey was a very violent man and acknowledging that he had abused his current partner Ms Jules Thomas three times, Judge Moran said that such evidence concerning his previous marriage had not been proven.
Mr Bailey married Ms Sarah Limbrick, also a journalist in Gloucester in 1980 when Mr Bailey was 23, but split five years later.
Mr Bailey also claimed he was libelled by: the Star, the Sunday Independent, the Independent on Sunday, the Times, the Sunday Timesand the Daily Telegraph.
As the judgment was read out, Mr Bailey, who could lose thousands in legal costs, showed no emotion. Both he and his barrister, Mr James Duggan, left the court without comment.
The journalist sued the eight titles for defamation, claiming that when he was arrested during the investigation into the murder of the French film-maker, they made untruthful allegations that have ruined his life.
At the ten-day hearing at Cork circuit court last month Mr Bailey (46) was questioned intensively about events on December 23rd, 1996, when Ms du Plantier (38) was killed.
She was found lying in her night-dress in a lane by her Schull farmhouse. No one has ever been charged with her murder.
Mr Bailey was the first journalist on the scene but just weeks later was arrested and questioned twice by gardaí. He was later released without charge. Mr Bailey's barrister said the most damaging allegations subsequently printed had not been proved.
During the libel hearing, 26 witnesses gave evidence, including senior gardaí who took part in the investigation and reporters who covered the story.
Giving his 35-minute ruling, Judge Moran described Mr Bailey as a man who clearly enjoyed courting publicity. "One can assume that Bailey was a man who likes a certain amount of notoriety, likes to be in the limelight and likes a bit of self-publicity," he said.
He described Mr Bailey's violence as "exceptional", adding that it was rare to come across an incident where a man had beaten his partner twice, let alone three times.
"The plaintiff says that the papers portrayed Mr Bailey as being a murderer ... I have read the articles several times but these articles do not convey to me that he was the murderer.
"What they do convey is that he was the suspect and that he was arrested on suspicion of murder.
"They constantly quote what Mr Bailey said - that he didn't do it."
Mr Moran then outlined the two exceptions regarding the relationship between Bailey and his ex-wife Sarah Limbrick, also a journalist. The pair married in Gloucester in 1980 when Bailey was 23, but split five years later.
Both the Mirrorand the Sunsaid they were now considering their position with a view to appealing against the judgment.
Solicitor Ms Karyn Woods, acting for both newspapers, said she was pleased that on the whole the two articles were accurate. "It was only one minor aspect which he has found against us," she said.
"His honour Judge Moran stated categorically: 'I personally have no hesitation in describing Mr Bailey as a violent man and the defendants were perfectly justified in their description of him as violent towards women. He has not been defamed by that'.
"Despite that, in what was described as being outside the thrust of Mr Bailey's libel actions, the court has determined that Mr Bailey has been defamed by the allegation that he was violent towards his ex-wife.
"We are disappointed that the learned judge has awarded damages to Mr Bailey in those circumstances."
Bailey had sued each newspaper for maximum circuit court damages of €38,000.
The ruling on legal costs, which could reach €600,000 for each side, has been delayed until February.