A PAINTER who was described as "an artist of some renown", Michael Byrne, otherwise Michael Ashur, of Thormanby Road, Howth, Co Dublin, has been ordered by the High Court not to sell, damage or dispose of an 80 year old woman's lifetime art collection.
Mr Justice Geoghegan heard that Mrs Elizabeth Craig, now a resident in a Howth hotel, had spent a lifetime building up her art collection which consisted of antique furniture, paintings and sculpture.
Her counsel, Mr Michael Howard, said that after her husband's death in 1978 Mrs Craig had bought a disused Methodist church in Bunclody, Co Wexford, in which to live and exhibit her collection.
The venture had taken on a life of its own, and soon she exhibited the works of various artists in her home. Eventually things had become too much for her and she sold the old church as a gallery in 1994.
Over the past 30 years Mrs Craig had developed a very close friendship with the defendant, who advised her on art. Two years ago Mr Byrne had allegedly agreed to store her lifetime art collection in a gallery which he had said he was prepared to build at his Howth home.
Mr Howard told Mr Justice Geoghegan that nothing had ever come of it, Mr Byrne was now claiming the property was his in that Mrs Craig had gifted it to him.
Mr Justice Geoghegan granted an interim injunction restraining the defendant from damaging, selling or otherwise disposing of Mrs Craig's claimed possessions.