Ian Bailey was arrested this morning on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by the French authorities.

They want him surrendered to stand trial for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier who was beaten to death in west Cork in 1996.

Ian Bailey was arrested by Sergeant Jim Kirwan at 10.20am on a bench just outside the court where Mr. Justice Tony Hunt had endorsed the warrant just a few minutes beforehand.

From the dock, he shook his head in disagreement when he was told he could agree to his surrender.

Sergeant Kirwan gave evidence of showing Mr. Bailey a copy of the warrant in English and French.

He said his response was that parts of it were “severely factually flawed”.

There was no objection to bail and he was released on his own bond of €€15,000 and told he must stay at his home address in Schull, hand over his passport and not leave the jurisdiction without permission.

The extradition process will now get underway with an initial hearing due to take place on Friday week.

This is the second time the French have tried to extradite him after the Supreme Court rejected their first attempt in 2012.