An ex-British soldier has denied as 'preposterous' a claim he told gardai of his belief Ian Bailey was guilty of murder and that he was thinking of asking him to hand himself in.

Martin Graham, claims detectives gave him cash and hash to 'soften up' the journalist who is suing the State for alleged wrongful arrest on suspicion of killing Sophie Toscan du Plantier in 1996.

Martin Graham claims he first met Ian Bailey in February 1997 while he was living in a house in Skibbereen owned by Russell Barrett who knew the journalist.

He said Mr Bailey stayed at the house for 2-3 nights immediately after he was released from custody having been arrested on suspicion of murdering French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The 53 year old says he reported the journalist's stressed demeanour to gardai and that they went on to offer him cash and cannabis to befriend Ian Bailey in the hope he would divulge information linked to the killing.

Under cross examination Martin Graham denied as 'rubbish' claims that will be made by one of the detectives Jim Fitzgerald.

He'll say the former soldier told gardai that after all that had happened in the house he and Russell Barrett thought Mr Bailey was guilty and they were thinking of asking the journalist to give himself up.