Lawyers for Ian Bailey say they have received 12 boxes of documents and 130 tapes of recorded conversations revealing an 'extraordinary' level of communication between gardai and the media.

The former journalist is suing the garda authorities for damages over their investigation into the murder of French film-maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Schull, west Cork in 1996.

His barrister Martin Giblin SC told the High Court that they are processing the information which they received in the past fortnight. He said they have not listened to the recordings which a team of gardai are in the process of transcribing.

Mr. Justice John Hedigan heard that the material is entirely new to Ian Bailey's side and reveals a level of contact with the media which Mr. Giblin described as 'beyond belief'.

He said there were hundreds and hundreds of communications with journalists which are relevant to the case.

In legal documents, Ian Bailey claims that on each occasion he was arrested he was handcuffed and brought to Bandon Garda station in a most public manner so as to attract the 'maximum amount of publicity'.

His lawyers are also seeking disclosure from the DPP of the identities of three gardai whose names have been redacted from a memo. The case will return to court on May 9th for a progress update.

Mr. Justice John Hedigan said he was aware a lot of public comment has attended the case and he warned the media that the matter is due to go before a jury later this year.

He said that while he does not want to stifle discussion, the parties are entitled to have their case determined in a dispassionate way and there is a risk justice may be impeded.