High Court adjourns Fr Michael O'Leary will dispute

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The High Court adjourned a dispute involving Fr Michael O'Leary and his siblings over their late mother's will. The proceedings were reported on 25 June 2019.

Nora Harpur, Barry O'Leary, Tadgh O'Leary and Marie O'Leary are seeking to set aside the 2009 will of their mother, Elizabeth O'Leary, who died in September 2014. They brought the action against Fr Michael and their brother John O'Leary on grounds including that their mother was not of sound mind and that the defendants exerted undue influence. The claims are denied.

The High Court heard that Fr O'Leary, who was on bail on drug charges in the United States, was not prohibited from travelling to Ireland to give evidence. His lawyers said he had completed a drug rehabilitation programme; he intended to testify.

After his arrest in New York on 17 March 2019, he was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, two counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia, and criminal possession of a controlled substance. His counsel, Michael Hourican, said he had not entered a plea.

His American lawyer advised that the criminal charges were adjourned until early July and were unlikely to be disposed of until October. The lawyer also advised that a custodial sentence or probation, if he were convicted, could affect his ability to travel. Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds said she would inquire whether a judge could hear the will dispute in July.

This case may have concluded differently. The outcome has not yet been confirmed by a public source we could find.