There is hope that the dispute which led last month to two elderly sisters being evicted from the house at Blackrock, Co Dublin, where they lived most of their lives, may be settled, the Supreme Court was told yesterday.
The case was adjourned for three weeks to allow settlement efforts to proceed.
Miss Rose and Miss Eileen Blackall, who are both in their 80s, were evicted from their house on October 19th following a legal row which had gone on for years.
Yesterday Dr Michael Forde, for the two sisters, sought an adjournment. He told the Supreme Court it was possible the matter may be resolved. "I expect not to be troubling the court," he added.
The presiding judge, Mr Justice O'Flaherty, sitting with Mr Justice Lynch and Mr Justice Barron, granted the three-week adjournment.
The two sisters were put out of the house in a family dispute over their late mother's two wills.
Miss Eileen Blackall is ill and could be not in court for yesterday's brief mention of the case. However, her sister, Rose (81), was present and said afterwards that lawyers involved in the case were trying to negotiate a settlement.
It is understood that one option being discussed is that the house be sold for £1 million with the sisters being allowed to remain in it. The present row began over moves to sell it for £400,000.
Ms Blackall also hinted that if there was not a settlement they might take the case to the British House of Lords "as we are British subjects", even though they were Irish citizens.