Journalist drops libel plea but will sue Irish state

Ian Bailey, the English journalist who last week dropped his libel appeal against six Irish newspapers, is to sue the Irish state for damages. Bailey withdrew his claims against the papers on the fourth day of his appeal. The papers agreed to waive their legal costs, to pay part of Bailey's costs and reiterated that they had never meant to suggest that he murdered Sophie Toscan du Plantier 10 years ago. Now, according to his solicitor, Bailey will pursue "claims for damages... in relation to what was done to him by the state and agents of the state" which led to him "being falsely labelled" as the killer. (Via Irish Examniner)