Two brothers seeking the repossession of a park given to the people of Mallow in north Cork by a philanthropic ancestor have agreed to put a six-month stay on the repossession to allow further negotiations take place with the local town council.
Patrick Jephson, a former private secretary to Diana, Princess of Wales, and his brother, Michael, who is head of catering at Buckingham Palace, are seeking to reclaim Mallow Town Park in north Cork following the expiry of a 99-year lease on the 34-acre property.
The Jephson brothers, whose ancestor, Katherine Jephson Norreys, gave the park to the people of Mallow for use as an amenity in 1907, wrote to the council last month seeking details on how the council proposed to achieve an "orderly handover of the property" on October 31st.
The park, which is zoned for amenity and community use, is used by many of the local sporting clubs, with Mallow GAA, soccer and rugby clubs all having pitches there, while it also includes a children's playground, a car park and a major arterial road serving the town. However, following some preliminary negotiations, the Jephsons have agreed to put a six- month moratorium on the handing back of the park to allow further negotiations between their legal representatives and Cork County Council officials.
Councillors were told earlier this week of the stay which comes after the Jephsons declined an initial offer from the council of €500,000 for the land. It has been valued at around €1 million.
Local Labour councillor Seán Sherlock, who had expressed concern about the council being obliged to pay a commercial price for the land, gave a qualified welcome to the decision to put a six-month stay on any handover.
"I would still hold to the view that it [ the land] was given in good faith and the council should explore every legal avenue to acquire the site," said Mr Sherlock.
Solicitor for the Jephson brothers, Philip Comyn of O'Connor and Dudley, confirmed that the brothers had offered to put a six-month moratorium on seeking the return of the property and were awaiting a response from the council to the offer.