An ex-British soldier has told the High Court he was forced out of this country and his life was ruined by the garda investigation into Sophie Toscan du Plantier's murder.
Martin Graham claims gardai gave him cannabis in 1997 to 'soften up' Ian Bailey and find out information relating to the murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier.
Under cross examination he said he had been with the gardai up to that point but felt this was wrong and so told Ian Bailey he was being 'stitched' up.
Mr Graham told the court he asked the newspapers for money for that information because he feared he was at risk and wanted to leave Ireland.
The ex-soldier said he met with a journalist and was photographed with cannabis after leaving a detective's car.
It was put to him that his claims that he was subsequently beaten up by gardai and threatened with the provos are fanciful which he denied.
He said he was not a witness to a murder but a witness to bad policing and corruption and he's been in hiding for 18 years – having had to leave Ireland and the mother of his child.
