Jules Thomas, partner of Ian Bailey, pictured arriving at the Four Courts. Picture: Courts Collins

ARTIST Jules Thomas has told the High Court that she was "terrified" and "traumatised" during the course of Garda interviews following her arrest in connection with the murder of French filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

This morning Ms Thomas, the partner of freelance journalist Ian Bailey, said that she was under "enormous pressure" from gardai to sign statements during her period of detention in Garda custody.

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"They (the gardai) weren't going to take no for an answer," said Ms Thomas.

"I was frightened of them, they were really, really frightening" Ms Thomas told Senior Counsel Paul O'Higgins, who is representing the State,

Ms Thomas and Mr Bailey were separately detained on February 10, 1997, for questioning in Bandon Garda Station in connection with the murder of Ms du Plantier whose body was found near Toormore, Schull, on the morning of December 23, 1996.

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Ms Thomas is being cross-examined in the continuing action by Mr Bailey against the Garda Commissioner and State arising from the conduct of the Garda investigation into the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier.

The defendants deny all of Mr Bailey's claims, including of wrongful arrest and conspiracy to manufacture evidence.

The civil action continues before Mr Justice John Hedigan and a jury of eight men and four women.

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