Judgment reserved in case of widow who handed savings to neighbours

The High Court has reserved judgment in an action taken by an 80-year-old widow who allegedly handed over her life savings of €124,000 to neighbours under duress after they had driven her from a nursing home to her bank while she was ill.

Mary Bourke claims her neighbours George and Pauline O'Donnell of Shannon Park, Portumna, Galway, influenced her to enter into an improvident and unreasonable transaction knowing she was frail, ill, confused and of advanced years.

Ms Bourke had lived at the Bridge, Portumna, about a mile from the O'Donnells, who had looked after her home after she was admitted to hospital in early 2007 and later to a nursing home.

The proceedings are also against her bank, Bank of Ireland Portumna, claiming it caused or permitted her to enter into an unconscionable and improvident transaction and permitted her to divest herself of her life savings to a party who was unrelated to her.

The claims are denied. Today following the conclusion of submissions in the case Mr Justice John Hedigan said he was reserving his decision. The Judge did not indicate when he would give his judgment.