A retired company director at the centre of a landmark €4 million sex abuse damages award is permitted €500 week for living expenses from one of his frozen bank accounts holding more than €74,000 under a High Court order made yesterday.
Joseph Carrick (76) was also ordered to disclose all information in relation to his financial position or face cross-examination in court.
Jacqueline O’Toole, who was raped and became pregnant by Carrick when she was a schoolgirl, was awarded the record €4 million damages by a High Court jury last month. Her cousin and best friend Geraldine Nolan, who was also raped and abused by him, was awarded €700,000 damages by a separate High Court jury.
The women also obtained freezing orders restraining Carrick reducing his assets below €5 million. A married father of five, Carrick transferred his home in Carysfort Woods, Blackrock, Dublin, to his wife, Angela, on February 23rd, 2007.
Yesterday, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne was told by Rudi Neuman, for a receiver appointed over his assets, that there had been an attempt by Carrick to draw down funds from an Irish Life pension fund. There were concerns Carrick was trying to strip or dissipate his assets, he said.
Mr Neuman said it had been established that Carrick held bank and building society accounts and that he had a business partner who may have an interest in his assets. The receiver appointed over his assets had been trying to ascertain the value of them from various institutions, he added.
Carrick, who did not defend the actions brought against him by the two women, had claimed he needed at least €2,701 a month living expenses. That sum was to cover the upkeep of two homes and outgoings such as mortgage repayments, private health insurance, utility bills, life assurance and food, it was stated.
Mr Neuman argued that the amount being sought was high given the maximum State pension is €230 a week.
Ms Justice Dunne said, having read affidavits and examined the living expenses claim, she believed it would be sensible to fix it at €500 a week. She continued the freezing orders and said the living expenses should only be paid from the Bank of Ireland account said to hold €74,411.
Carrick must also swear an affidavit of discovery within six weeks.