A dispute in which the author of a controversial best-selling book claimed she was entitled to remain in her parents' home in Dublin for life has been settled at the High Court on undisclosed terms.
The proceedings were brought against Catherine O'Beirne, author of Kathy's Story, published in 2005, by Eamonn O'Beirne and his sister, Margaret Payne, and arose from a dispute within the family as to whether Catherine O'Beirne was entitled to remain in the family home at Boot Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, for the remainder of her life.
Mr O'Beirne and Ms Payne, as executors of the will of their late father Oliver, had claimed it was always intended by their parents that the house would be divided equally between all of the nine children.
Ms O'Beirne had counter-claimed that her father had told her, in exchange for her looking after her mother, who had health problems, and himself, that she could remain in the house for her life. The Circuit Court ruled that Ms O'Beirne should be entitled to live in the house for her lifetime.
The executors appealed that ruling to the High Court, and the case was due to open yesterday before Mr Justice John Hedigan.
However, just after 4pm yesterday, the judge was told by Barry Hickson SC, for the executors, that an accommodation had been reached on terms which were handed into the court. No details were disclosed.
