Ian Bailey, a former 'prime suspect' in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation has suffered 'worse than a life sentence', a High Court jury has heard.

The 57 year old took to the stand this evening after his lawyers opened his action for damages against the Garda Commissioner and the State over claims he was wrongfully arrested on suspicion of killing the French film producer.

Sophie Toscan du Plantier's beaten body was found near her holiday home by neighbours in Schull on December 23rd 1996.

Mr Bailey, who is originally from Manchester, but is based in Schull, Co Cork, claims gardai conspired to manufacture bogus evidence against him in order to blame him for a crime he did not commit.

His evidence will resume tomorrow morning.

Opening the case his barrister, Tom Creed SC, told the High Court jury that Ian Bailey was arrested in February 1997 and in January 1998. On both occasions he was released without charge.

Mr Creed said there was a GUBU (grotesque, unprecedented, bizarre and unbelievable) aspect to the case in that Mr Bailey was confronted by media reporters and a camera man on his arrival at Bandon Garda station.

Mr Bailey alleges that members of An Garda Siochana fed information to the media which poisoned his position in the community.

Part of Mr Bailey's case is that gardai also put pressure on a state solicitor and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions after a decision was made not to prosecute him.

The jury has been told it will hear evidence from local shopkeeper Marie Farrell that she was pressurised by gardai to give incriminating statements placing Mr Bailey on a bridge at 3am on the morning of the killing.

The State and the Garda Commissioner deny all the allegations.

Read: Timeline of events behind Ian Bailey's High Court case