A legal dispute between the six adult children of the late Judge Noel Ryan over the management of property assets, previously valued at €15 million but now worth considerably less, has settled without any admission of liability.
The settlement was announced today to Mr Justice Frank Clarke at the Commercial Court who said it was particularly welcome as the case involved family difficulties which could undoubtedly have worsened had the case gone to full hearing.
Four of the Ryan siblings - Declan Ryan, Sittingbourne, Kent, England; Marie McGovern, Foxrock, Dublin; Martin Ryan, Southern View, Baily, Co Dublin; and Irene Ryan, Stonepark Abbey, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin - brought the action against their brother Oran Ryan, a solicitor, of Westminster Road, Foxrock, Dublin, and sister, Trinette Larkin, Countess Road, Killarney, Co Kerry.
The four made allegations about how Oran Ryan managed a former family partnership set up by their father and mother.
Judge Noel Ryan was described as the driving force in that partnership until age and health factors resulted in its management being allegedly increasingly left to Oran.
In the action, the plaintiffs claimed, due to alleged acts or omissions by Oran Ryan and Trinette Larkin, they could not sell any of the properties. The claims were denied.
Announcing the settlement, Brian O’Moore SC, for the plaintiffs, thanked the court for giving time for talks between the parties and said the only order required was to adjourn the case generally with liberty to re-enter and no order for costs.
As far as each of the defendants was concerned, the settlement was without any admission of liability on their part, counsel added.
