Ian Bailey's evidence in his wrongful arrest action against the State has concluded after nine days in the witness box.

Mr Bailey (57) with an address at Schull, Co Cork is suing the State and Garda Commissioner for his alleged wrongful arrest on suspicion of murdering French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996.

The former journalist fought back tears this afternoon describing how his alcohol problem led to his long-term partner Jules Thomas leaving him for several months in 2001.

A clearly emotional Ian Bailey told the jury he attended 120 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in 90 days after his partner left him. He said she came back to him just before Christmas of 2001.

The journalist has previously given evidence that he feels 'eternal shame' he was involved in domestic violence against Ms Thomas in 1996 and again in 2001.

The 57-year-old said he used alcohol to 'try blot out the awful reality' after his arrest on suspicion of murdering French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier but 'it didn't work'.

His nine days of evidence in his wrongful arrest case are now over and his partner Jules Thomas has taken the stand.

The jury's heard she was also detained over the du Plantier murder and her action for damages will be heard once Ian Bailey's case concludes.

Earlier, Mr Bailey told the High Court about his marijuana use and about his unhappiness that his private diaries are being used against him.

There was a brief heated exchange earlier as Mr Bailey expressed his unhappiness at his diaries that were seized by gardaí being used against him in this civil action.

He called it an absolute intrusion of his privacy before telling barrister for the state Luan O'Braonain "You've your job to do, get on with it".

Referring to diary entries from the late 1980s and early 1990s about disgust and self loathing, Mr O'Braonan suggested Mr Bailey had suffered feelings of being overburdened years before he was ever suspected of murdering Ms du Plantier.

Mr Bailey replied that what he experienced at the hands of the gardaí and State was not like anything he had experienced before.

He also admitted he used to use marijuana and said to some laughter "it was very popular in west Cork. Members of the legal profession used to travel down."

See a timeline of the case here

Originally posted at 13.24