Family dispute decision of will to give Co Kildare estate to best friend of deceased

The High Court has refused to put a temporary stay on the distribution of the disputed will of a woman who drew it up a week before she died, giving her entire estate to her best friend.

The dispute centres around the will of the late Celine Murphy (50), who died of cancer on 15 March, 2011. She left her estate, valued at around €283,000, to her best friend Mary Butler, from Straffan in Co Kildare.

Murphy’s sister Majella Rippington, her husband Shaun, and Murphy’s other sister Edel Banahan, disputed the will and brought an action before the High Court seeking to have the will declared invalid.

They claim Celine signed the will in circumstances of duress and undue influence.

Mary Butler and Tridentine Bishop Michael Cox, who was named as executor, denied the claims, saying Murphy was of sound mind. They counter-claimed seeking to have the will declared valid.

Last year the High Court rejected the family’s claim and declared the will to be valid. The judgment is under appeal.

Yesterday, the matter returned before the High Court when Rippington asked Justice Caroline Costello for a stay on the High Court judgment pending the outcome of the appeal.