A High Court judge has indicated his intention to endorse a European warrant for the arrest of Ian Bailey.

Mr Bailey is wanted in France to stand trial for the voluntary homicide of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The French filmmaker’s body was found near her holiday home in west Cork in 1996, however nobody has ever been charged over her death.

A post mortem revealed she had been beaten to death.

Mr Bailey denies any involvement in her death and his defence is objecting to the extradition as Ireland's Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had decided not to bring charges against him.

Under French law, Mr Bailey can be tried in his absence in France.

Today, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said he believed he would endorse the warrant unless Mr Bailey comes up with something to convince him otherwise.

He agreed to adjourn the matter until next week so as not to unfairly impinge on Mr. Bailey ahead of a civil appeal.