€2m family law settlement sealed with a kiss
The man and woman, who married in the late 1960s and had a number of children before separating in the mid 1980s and later divorcing, smiled at each other and the man kissed the woman on the cheek after the Supreme Court agreed the settlement reached between them on consent.
Both are aged in their 60s and, by court order, nothing may be published that might identify them.
Inge Clissmann, counsel for the man, said there was a signed consent to the settlement under which the woman is to get €2m from the sale proceeds of the family home, described as a “magnificent” property in a “highly desirable” location, plus her legal costs.
The man is to get what counsel described as “a very small portion” of the total sale sum from his 50% share of the family home and any additional proceeds from the sale will go to the couple’s adult children.
Both sides were satisfied the settlement made proper provision for the wife, Ms Clissmann said.
Marian Moylan, for the woman, said her client was very anxious the matter be finalised and was satisfied with the terms of settlement.
The chief justice, Ms Justice Susan Denham congratulated the parties on arriving at an agreement and said that was more satisfactory than the court ruling on the matter.
The court was satisfied the agreement made proper provision and the relevant law has been complied with, she added.
The settlement arose after the man had appealed against a 2007 High Court order concerning proper provision for his first wife.
Mr Justice George Birmingham, who stressed that the task before him was not so much about the division of assets as making proper provision, had directed the family home here be sold with the proceeds to be divided equally between the man and woman.
The judge, who estimated the value of the available assets at some €6.6m and noted the woman calculated her needs at €6,000 monthly, also directed the woman should get a lump sum payment of €1.25m after which the man’s maintenance obligations would cease.
