Marie Farrell has said a garda detective coached her to make false statements against Ian Bailey and warned she would “never have peace” if she admitted making false statements.

The shopkeeper from Schull, Co Cork is giving evidence in the former journalist's action for damages over claims he was wrongfully arrested for the 1996 murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

Marie Farrell has told the jury she was coached by a detective garda to make false statements accusing Ian Bailey of intimidating her and placing him near the murder scene.

The court heard she repeated these falsehoods at his libel trial in 2003.

She claims afterwards garda superintendent Dermot Dwyer shook her hand and gave her €20 which made her feel awful like a child being given money for being good.

She says in 2005 she was informed by detective sergeant Maurice Walsh she'd have to testify again because Sophie Toscan du Plantier's family were taking a case against Ian Bailey.

The mother of five said her reply was that she would never go back to court to tell lies for the guards.

She said when she threatened to go to Ian Bailey's solicitor and tell the truth the detective's response was “if you go down that road you'll never again have a day's peace in Schull”.