Ian Bailey has lost his civil case for damages against the State and Garda Commissioner.

He was seeking damages over claims gardaí conspired to frame him for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

It related to the evidence of Schull shopkeeper Marie Farrell, who said detectives convinced her to give statements placing the former journalist on a bridge near the crime scene - which she retracted many years later.

Ms Toscan du Plantier, a French film producer, was bludgeoned to death outside her holiday home in Schull, West Cork in December 1996.

The jury had two questions to answer – the first was whether gardai conspired to implicate Ian Bailey in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The second was whether there was a garda conspiracy to obtain false statements from Schull shopkeeper Marie Farrell that Ian Bailey had intimidated her.

After about two hours deliberations the jury came back with their answers – no, on both counts.

Mr Justice John Hedigan thanked the jury and said he would send a transcript of Marie Farrell's evidence to the DPP for consideration.

He also spoke of the shadow of the French film producer's tragic and senseless death.

He said it was a source of dismay in Ireland and France that her cruel killer has not been brought to justice.

Gardaí had denied the allegations and claimed Ms Farrell was an untruthful witness, whose evidence should not be relied on.

Mr Bailey closed his eyes and took a deep breath as the verdict was returned. 

Following the verdict, Mr. Bailey's solicitor Frank Buttimer spoke outside court on his clients behalf:

“The result is disappointing," he said.

"We would have to consider the result, consider our options and qt this point in time I think it is appropriate that ... we should be allowed space and time to consider what might arise from here on in,” he added.