Man loses court bid after sister leaves €2.7m to charity

An 80-year-old former factory worker has told the High Court that he felt like the man who won the Lotto and lost the ticket after he found out his late sister had left €2.7m to charity in her will.

Joseph Dee of North Circular Road in Dublin has lost his challenge to the will of his sister Mary Coffey from Emly in Tipperary, who died eight years ago.

The court heard the estate of Mary Coffey was valued at €3.5m after she died at the age of 87 in November 2005.

Her husband had already passed away and she had no children.

In her will, she left €45,000 to each of her two brothers and €2.7m to charity.

One brother, Joseph Dee, said before he read the will he thought he was rich, but afterwards felt like the man who won the Lotto, but lost the ticket.

He challenged the will on grounds that his sister was extremely easily led and had received bad advice from her solicitors.

The judge found that she was of sound mind, however.

High Court President Nicholas Kearns said this was a very unfortunate case brought by an ex-factory worker who has retired and lives alone on the north circular road.

He noted that Mr Dee seemed significantly embittered by the whole experience.