A young public relations consultant went from being her boyfriend's live-in-lover to a lodger while he "discreetly" wooed another woman, a judge was told yesterday.
Nicola Watkins, Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, is suing Lochlann Butler, Stepaside Park, Stepaside, Dublin, for a 50 per cent financial interest in their former home at Sandyford Grove Hall, Dublin.
Judge Joseph Matthews heard in the Circuit Civil Court that Butler later married "the other woman" he had been seeing while living with Ms Watkins at Sandyford Grove Hall.
Alex Finn, counsel for Butler, said his client now lived in a house valued at €1 million but against which, the court would hear, there was a mortgage of €374,000 and a judgment mortgage of €569,191.87.
Mr Finn, when asked by Judge Matthews about the judgment mortgage, said one of Mr Butler's business partners had departed the company and had left the company and Mr Butler very much exposed.
Paul Fogarty, counsel for Ms Watkins, told the judge during outline remarks to the court that she had paid food, gas and electricity bills and had contributed towards other expenses, particularly after she had received a compensation award in relation to a car accident. Mr Fogarty said she would tell the court she had also bought items for the house and had paid towards a holiday the couple had spent together.
Mr Finn said Mr Butler would tell the court that Sandyford Grove Hall House had been purchased in his sole name for Ir£60,000 in 1994 and that Ms Watkins, who moved in with him, had made no contribution towards the purchase. He had made the mortgage repayments. The house had been sold by Butler in 2001 for Ir£139,000.
The relationship had "soured" in late 1996 and early 1997 and Mr Butler had felt quite sorry for Ms Watkins and had allowed her to stay. He would be claiming that apart from the gas and electricity bills, her contributions had been by way of a nominal gesture: "a woman's touch, bed linen and scented candles".
It would be alleged her contributions were by way of a rent while she remained on in the house. Mr Finn said Mr Butler would say it was quite a few years before Ms Watkins had been persuaded to move out. He had been legally advised to coax her out gently.
Judge Matthews was told the writing was on the wall for his relationship with Ms Watkins before he had met his new partner and now wife. If anything, he had been too kind and incredibly indulgent in having allowed Ms Watkins to stay.
He had not wished to hurt Ms Watkins and had kept his relationship with his now wife "discreet" rather than hidden.
The case was adjourned for the hearing of evidence next month. Barbara Seligman appeared for Mrs Butler.