Court steps in after man gives €350,000 to poor to get to heaven
Mr Justice Michael Twomey on Friday appointed a guardian to represent the best interests of the farmer, aged in his forties, who, the court heard, only last week gave €1,000 cash to a homeless woman he met.
Solicitor Katherine Kelleher, speaking on behalf of the Health Service Executive (HSE), told Judge Twomey the man had recently sold his farm for around €600,000 and by May last had been left with just €288,000 in two bank accounts.
A medical report was handed into court.
READ MORE
'The situation is that in a short number of weeks he has again given away added sums in the region of €38,000,' Ms Kelleher said.
'His bank accounts are literally haemorrhaging cash. I have received a phone call just this morning revealing that in one of the accounts there is now an overdraft of €65,000.'
She told Judge Twomey the man claimed he had been told by God to give away all of his money and if he did so he would get to heaven.
Ms Kellleher said she was applying to the court on behalf of the HSE for the appointment of a guardian ad litem to look after the best interests of the man. His total funds now stand at €250,000.
Judge Twomey said he would appoint a guardian ad litem in light of the evidence that had been presented to the court.
He said he would also make an order in the extended terms sought by the HSE directing the two banks concerned be directed to permit all inquiries be made regarding the man's accounts and allowing the guardian ad litem take all steps considered necessary.
The proceedings were returned into early September. The man concerned cannot be identified by order of the court.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Economist calls for budget ‘prudence', as Central Bank governor suggests rethink is needed
'A lot of prudence' is needed in Budget 2026 , while there is a case for postponing recurrent spending and tax cuts until there is 'greater clarity' on the negative implications of the EU-US trade deal , a prominent economist has said. Dan O'Brien, the chief economist of the Institute of International and European Affairs , made the remarks while responding to comments from the Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf suggesting the Government should rethink its approach to the October budget. In its summer economic statement last month the Government said a €9.4 billion tax and spending package will form the foundation of the upcoming budget. However, the Coalition warned at the time it may have to 'recalibrate' its strategy and reduce the size of the overall package if there is a 'deterioration in the tariff landscape' over the coming months. READ MORE The European Union has since struck a trade deal with the United States which sees EU goods, including those from Ireland, hit with 15 per cent tariffs by the US. The Business Post reported on Sunday that Mr Makhlouf said Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe now has 'more certainly' for planning the budget with the level of tariffs on EU goods known. 'Hopefully the summer economic statement is not the budget, and hopefully, by the time he (Mr Donohoe) gets there, he will have reflected again on what the trade situation is telling us,' Mr Makhlouf said. He added: 'For an economy operating at full employment, we're adding more stimulus to the economy than it needs – and I would look again at what we're planning to do.' Mr Makhlouf also told the paper: 'I think at the moment there's a risk that we're in the wrong place.' [ What did the summer economic statement really tell us about Budget 2026? Opens in new window ] A spokeswoman for Mr Donohoe declined to comment on Mr Makhlouf's remarks. During an interview on Newstalk radio on Sunday, Mr O'Brien was asked if he agrees Mr Donohoe needs to rethink the budget. He said this suggestion is 'largely' correct, as 'we're facing a lot of uncertainty'. Mr O'Brien added: 'I think the Government needs to manage expectations around this. There's been a lot of giveaways [in recent budgets]. Clearly we had a general election last year.' He said there has been a 'big uptick in inflation' but this has 'come right back down again' and 'there isn't the justification for Government to be intervening to deal with every problem'. Mr O'Brien said the implications of the trade situation for the pharmaceutical sector are uncertain, relying on the 'whims of the US president who may just decide he doesn't like the pharmaceutical sector in Europe selling stuff to the US and he may do something more radical'. He added: 'So there's a lot of uncertainty here, and I think we need a lot of prudence in this budget.' Asked about potential tax choices in the budget, Mr O'Brien argued there is 'no economic justification' for the Government's intention to reduce the VAT rate for the hospitality sector. 'One might strongly make the case that both recurrent spending and tax cuts maybe need to be postponed until we get greater clarity as to the negative implications of the trade deal and the extent to which it effects particularly the pharmaceutical sector and how that feeds into corporation tax revenues,' Mr O'Brien added. 'We just don't know how big a hit that could impose on the public finances if we get a change in pharmaceuticals sales to the US and that results in a reduction in corporation tax profits.' Did the EU have its hands tied before striking a trade deal with the US? Listen | 23:32
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Croatian truck driver remanded in custody over €2 million drugs haul in Cork
A truck driver has been remanded in custody charged in connection with a €2 million drugs seizure from a consignment of steel at the Port of Cork . Robert Slivar (59), of no fixed abode but from Ivanic, Croatia , was brought before a special sitting of Cork District Court on Saturday. He was charged with two offences relating to the seizure of 93 packages of cannabis grass, weighing 107kg and worth €2.1 million. Mr Slivar, who arrived in Cork by ferry from Zeebrugge in Belgium , was charged with cannabis possession and possession of cannabis for sale or supply at the Port of Cork, Ringaskiddy, on July 27th, contrary to section 3 and section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977. The alleged discovery was made by a sniffer dog, customs officers and gardaí . READ MORE Det Garda Ryan Dillon, of the Cork city divisional drugs unit, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution, telling the court Mr Slivar made no reply to either charge when they were put to him after caution outside Togher Garda station. Insp Ray Dunne said gardaí sought for Mr Slivar to be remanded in custody, but defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said his client, who was assisted throughout the proceedings by a Croatian interpreter, was seeking bail. Det Garda Dillon outlined objections to bail, citing the seriousness of the charges, the alleged strength of evidence in the case and fears Mr Slivar poses a flight risk as he has no ties to Ireland. Judge John King refused bail and remanded Mr Slivar in custody to appear again at a special sitting of Cork District Court on Wednesday. The judge also requested a statement of means from the accused before deciding whether to grant free legal aid.
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
BBC faces criticism over delay in paying court-ordered damages to Gerry Adams
The BBC has been criticised for not yet having paid court-ordered damages to former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. The corporation lost a major defamation case earlier this year after Mr Adams took them to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme and an accompanying online story. They contained an allegation that Mr Adams sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Féin official Denis Donaldson. Mr Adams denied any involvement. In May, a jury at the High Court found in his favour and awarded him €100,000 after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. The BBC, which was found by the jury not to have acted in good faith nor in a fair and reasonable way, was also ordered to pay the former Sinn Féin leader's legal costs. BBC Northern Ireland director Adam Smyth (centre) outside the High Court in Dublin after the court case (Brian Lawless/PA) Adam Smyth, director of BBC NI, expressed disappointment in the verdict and said the corporation believes it supplied extensive evidence to the court of the careful editorial process and journalistic diligence applied to the programme and accompanying online article. After the decision, the broadcaster's legal team was granted a stay in the payment of the full award as it took time to consider an appeal, subject to paying half the damages (€50,000) and €250,000 towards solicitors' fees. In June, the BBC confirmed it would not pursue an appeal. However, it is understood that by August 1 the BBC had not paid the damages. Mr Adams previously indicated that he planned to donate what he receives to good causes. He specified that these would include for children in Gaza as well as groups in the Irish language sector and those who are homeless. A source close to Mr Adams told the PA news agency: 'The delay by the BBC is deplorable and it should move speedily towards discharging the order of the court.' A BBC spokesperson said: 'Total costs will be finalised and payable in due course.'
