The adult stepchildren of a woman who left her allegedly violent husband many years ago have denied her claims they acted fraudulently in obtaining a death certificate for her before selling the family home unknown to her.
They were shocked when they learned their stepmother Maureen Moore was still alive, John Moore and Marie Byrne told the High Court yesterday.
Mr Moore said his stepmother was a “bully” and he and his sister rejected her claims their father was violent.
Ms Moore (71) has brought proceedings aimed at overturning the sale in 2002 for €245,000 of the family home at Mount Tallant Avenue, Harold’s Cross, Dublin.
The case is against the two defendants, the children of her estranged husband John G. Moore, who died in 1996, and the purchaser of the property.
Ms Moore, Laburnum Square, North Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, who lived abroad for many years after leaving her husband in 1982, is claiming entitlement to a share of the property.
The case continues.