Ian Bailey Closing submissions at libel trial
Ian Bailey's libel trial has been told that articles in the eight newspapers being sued identified the journalist as the man who murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier.
Barrister Jim Duggan said statements which the newspapers sought to present as fact were lies. He described their coverage as 'horrendous'.
In his closing submissions, Mr Duggan told Cork Circuit Court he had not sought to portray Mr Bailey as a saint.
He said Mr Bailey had acknowledged beating his partner Jules Thomas and was a man many people would dislike.
Mr Duggan told the court the couple had attempted to get on with their lives, but the newspapers would not let them. They branded Mr Bailey as a violent man and identified him as the one who murdered Ms du Plantier, he said.
The newspapers acknowledge they said Mr Bailey was violent and that he was a suspect, but they deny the articles meant he was the killer.
Mr Bailey denies he had anything to do with Ms du Plantier's death.
Judge Patrick Moran is expected to deliver his judgement in three weeks time.
