The High Court has begun hearing the extradition case involving former journalist Ian Bailey, who is wanted by the French authorities in connection with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in west Cork 14 years ago.
Mr Bailey has always denied any involvement in her death.
Counsel on behalf of Mr Bailey told the court the French authorities had 'played a game of cat and mouse' and the request for his extradition was an insult to justice.
53-year-old Ian Bailey, who is now a law student living near Schull in west Cork, was in court for the hearing accompanied by his partner.
His counsel Martin Giblin told the court that the extradition request was also an insult to Mr Bailey's rights because under Irish law a similarly accused person could not be extradited because of his citizenship.
Mr Bailey is a British citizen, but under French law he can be extradited despite not being a French citizen because Ms du Plantier was French.
Mr Giblin said this amounted to a lack of legal reciprocity.
He also said Mr Bailey had freely co-operated with the Irish investigation and the Director of Public Prosecution had decided not to prosecute him, which under the law at the time meant he could not be extradited.
That law was changed in 2005.
Mr Giblin said this was not retrospective and he accused the French courts of playing cat and mouse with Mr Bailey.
The court also heard an affidavit from Mr Bailey in which he described the great trauma and distress the case and attendant publicity had caused him and his partner.
