The High Court has rejected most of Mathew James Connolly’s objections to the administration of the multimillion-euro estates of his parents, Matthew and Elizabeth Connolly of Bel Air, Westminster Road, Foxrock.
The proceedings were brought by David Dillon, the sole proving executor of both estates, seeking court approval for proposed distributions to the beneficiaries. Connolly objected to the estate accounts and alleged that assets valued at €1,033,875.50 had been withheld.
Ms Justice Stack said clearly that no money had been wrongfully withheld and that most of the disputed sum had never formed part of either estate.
Elizabeth Connolly died in September 2015, leaving an estate worth approximately €6 million. Her husband Matthew died in January 2016, leaving an estate worth about €7.25 million, including the residue of his wife’s estate. Their four children were beneficiaries of Matthew’s residue.
The court examined nine disputed items. It held that jewellery found in Elizabeth’s possession at death should be included in her estate and ultimately her husband’s estate. A €58,000 EBS account was already properly accounted for. The court found no basis for treating a €727,524 Leeds Building Society balance as part of Matthew’s estate, as the evidence indicated he had transferred it to another person before his death.
The court also ruled that €60,000 in dividends on shares specifically left to Ann and Carol belonged to them, rather than to the residue. Legal fees of €7,146.30 incurred by estate solicitors defending an LSRA complaint could not be charged to the estate, but separate €3,444 fees for advice on selling Bel Air were legitimate estate expenses.
A proposed €120,000 contingency fund for possible future litigation was upheld as reasonable.
Some matters remained to be finalised. The court required clarification about ownership of land in Glengarriff known as The Dell and directed that the balance in a Grafton Street AIB account be established and credited to Matthew’s estate before final distribution orders are made.