Ian Bailey has claimed his life has been a misery for 18 years after gardai allegedly manufactured evidence against him for the murder of French film-maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The 57 year old former journalist based in Schull, Co Cork is suing the State and the garda authorities for wrongful arrest.

Ian Bailey claims he was wrongfully arrested on suspiscion of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier – the French film producer who was found beaten to death by her holiday home in West Cork in 1996.

The High Court heard the 57 year old alleges gardai conspired to manufacture evidence against him by unlawful means and told the local community he was guilty.

Mr Bailey's barrister Tom Creed said he will claim he has suffered emotional and psychological damage as a result of this allegedly unlawful and oppressive conduct intentionally inflicted by the gardai.

It took quite some time to swear in a jury for the 6 week case which will start tomorrow.

There were plenty of challenges from both sides, and a warning from Mr Justice John Hedigan that anyone with garda connections should make that known before being sworn in to hear the case.

That is because of the serious nature of the allegations against gardaí by Mr Bailey.

The case has been called on for around six weeks.