An heiress who went to jail rather than reveal where she had hidden £250,000 worth of family heirlooms has now agreed to disclose where they are, the Belfast High Court heard yesterday.
Ms Marion Russell (33), a great granddaughter of the Earl of Kilmorey, spent a week in prison last September for contempt of court after she defied an order to reveal the whereabouts of the heirlooms taken from the ancestral home, Mourne Park House, Kilkeel.
Her lawyer, Mr Frank O'Donoghue QC, said: "We agree to an inspection of the chattels we hold on a reciprocal agreement basis." Ms Russell is involved in a long-running dispute with her mother, Ms Julie Ann Anley, her brother Mr Phillip Anley and sister Ms Bonnie Horsman, over the disposal of the estate and heirlooms.
Mr O'Donoghue said the court action originated because Ms Russell wished to retain heirlooms to which she had an emotional and sentimental attachment while the other parties were happy to sell everything.
Mr Michael Lavery QC, for Mr Anley and Mrs Horsman, said: "Now that Mrs Russell is apparently willing to allow an inspection she is going to have to reveal where they are. I presume they are still within the UK so there should not be any difficulty about an inspection." He said the court had been told that the reason Mrs Russell removed the chattels was for safe-keeping. Mr Justice Girvan adjourned the hearing until February 5th.