Priest's original hand-made will is legal, court rules

Fr Patrick John Mannion of Killoran, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, served as a Roman Catholic parish priest in Texas between 1989 and 2007, when he retired and returned to Ireland.

A deceased priest’s original hand-made will remains valid and was not revoked by a later will also made by him without legal assistance, a High Court judge has ruled.

Fr Patrick John Mannion’s object in avoiding lawyers’ fees has “spectacularly failed”, as the costs of the application concerning the wills must be borne by his estate, Mr Justice Senan Allen remarked.