The will of Fanore native and well known philosopher and poet John O’Donoghue has been declared void by the High Court.
Author of the best selling Anam Cara, the 53 year old died suddenly while on holidays in France almost four years ago and his mother, as administrator of his estate ,brought legal proceedings to clarify the terms of the one page will.
The High Court was told that an urgent hearing was sought on grounds Ms O’Donoghue was terminally ill and Mr Justice Paul Gilligan heard the case over a number of days.
Delivering his judgement Justice Gilligan said while there was little doubt John O O’Donoghue was a man of considerable learning he had also made the classic error of having two beneficiaries of the will, his mother and brother- also witness the document – making it invalid.
The decision means the entire 2 million estate left by O’Donohue’s passes to his mother Josie.
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