Journalist Ian Bailey has settled his case against six newspapers over their coverage of the investigation into the murder of Frenchwoman Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996.
Ian Bailey statement
Mr Bailey had appealed his unsuccessful libel action against the papers in the High Court in Cork, but the action was settled today.
In a statement, counsel for Mr Bailey, Brendan Nix, said the defendants in the case would be paying a contribution to his legal costs but not damages.
"The defendants are not saying now, nor did they ever say, he was a murderer," Mr Nix added. "The defendants confirm nothing in any of the articles was ever intended to suggest that Ian Bailey murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier."
Mr Bailey did not speak following today's proceedings, but his solicitor Frank Buttimer said in a statement: "Mr Bailey is extremely relieved that the appeal has been compromised in reasonable terms between himself and the defendants.
"He is happy that the defendants have acknowledged that he was in no way responsible in any fashion whatsoever in respect of the appaling killing of Madame Sophie Toscan du Plantier."
The last ten years had been "extremely difficult" for Mr Bailey and his partner Jules Thomas because of the "false accusations" leveled against him, the statement added.
Mr Bailey (50) of Schull, Co Cork, was twice arrested for questioning on the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier, whose badly beaten body was found near her holiday home at Toormore, Schull, on December 23rd, 1996.
However, he was released without charge on each occasion and has denied any involvement in the murder.
