Ian Bailey has been ordered to pay the full costs of his failed action for damages against the State, which are estimated to be around €6m.

The former journalist lost his case alleging gardaí had conspired to implicate him in the 1996 murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Schull, Co Cork.

Mr Bailey refused to answer journalists' questions on how he plans to pay this multi-million euro legal bill or if he plans to appeal the costs ruling.

In March, the jury found against the former journalist who claimed gardaí had conspired to implicate him in the murder of Ms du Plantier at her holiday home in West Cork.

The 64-day hearing was the longest civil case ever to run before a jury here.

At the cost hearing today, lawyers for Mr Bailey argued its duration would have been halved if the State had not waited until the dying days of the trial to apply, successfully, for the bulk of his case to be struck out as statute barred.

Mr Justice John Hedigan said he found that argument unreal - and given the gravity of the allegations Mr Bailey had made against the gardaí, he believes there would have been a public outcry if the State parties tried at the outset to close down the case on a technicality.