Man wins appeal against provisions for ex-wife

THE Supreme Court has upheld an appeal by a divorced businessman whom the High Court had ordered to make better provision for his ex-wife, including paying out €1 million to buy her a second house and an additional €600,000 for her own use.

Described by family law solicitor Lillian O’Sullivan as a “re-emphasis” of the meaning of “proper provision” in the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996, the five-judge court unanimously found the overall level of provision ordered for the ex-wife by the High Court was “excessive”.

The court’s duty was to make proper provision, not enter into “a re-distribution of wealth”, it said.