Clarity sought on poet's will

THE HIGH Court has been asked to clarify issues arising from the will of well-known philosopher and poet John O’Donoghue who died three years ago after collapsing while holidaying in France.

O'Donoghue (53), a former priest and author of the bestselling Anam Cara, Benedictus – a Book of Blessings and other works, lived at Cleantrasna, Camus, Connemara, and left an estate valued at more than €2 million.

He made a will in February 2001, just before leaving Ireland for a tour of Australia. That will was made without the benefit of legal advice and was later admitted to probate.

That one-page document was signed by him and witnessed by his mother Josephine and brother Peter but issues have arisen as to what was meant by its terms.

In the will, he stated he was leaving all his worldly possessions to his mother Josephine to be divided equally and fairly among his family with “special care and extra help” to be given to his sister Mary. He also stipulated gifts of money were to be given to a number of other persons.

Josephine O’Donoghue has now brought High Court proceedings seeking clarification of several issues arising from the will and her action opened yesterday before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan and continues today.

Among the issues raised by the terms of the will are whether O’Donoghue’s mother herself is a beneficiary and what is meant by the term “family” and whether that means only his mother, two brothers and his sister. Other issues include what is meant by the term “special care and extra help” for the late philosopher’s sister Mary.

The judge has also been asked by Vinog Faughnan SC, for Mrs O’Donoghue, to specify what powers she has in her capacity as legal personal representative of John O’Donoghue.

O’Donoghue’s other published works include Eternal Echoes, Divine Beauty and Echoes of Memory.