A senior Garda representative says the verdict in the Ian Bailey action is important for the reputation of An Garda Síochána.

Mr Bailey today lost his civil action against the state and the Garda commissioner. Mr Bailey was seeking damages over claims gardaí tried to frame him for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, in 1996.

The former journalist had claimed Gardai conspired to implicate him in the murder of the French film producer.

However today the jury found that was not the case

Speaking at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors’' annual conference in Meath, General Secretary John Redmond welcomed the decision of the jury.

“The fact that the jury found there was no conspiracy, that’s important for the reputation of the garda organisation,” he said.

“We still can’t forget that a person was murdered at the time, that case is still unsolved and that has to continue to be our priority as police officers.

“Notwithstanding that Mr Bailey had some concerns, he brought them before the courts, he pursued his case, as is his right, and the jury came back with the verdict that they did. That’s about the size of it really,” he added.