Son ordered to repay €192,000 to mother’s estate after ‘disturbing’ actions

The High Court has ordered the son of a woman who left a €6m estate to repay €192,000 to the estate after a judge said he had taken advantage of his mother’s inability to manage her own affairs in a series of “disturbing and indefensible” actions.

Dermot Horan, after getting control of the finances of his late mother Mary Ann (also known as Maureen) Horan, withdrew €700 in cash every day from atms over a 12 month period for his own benefit, Mr Justice Brian Cregan said.

“His use of that money for his own ends all show a devious attempt to take advantage of his elderly and infirm mother for his own financial ends”, he said.

The judge ordered him to repay the €192,000 he removed after finding Mr Horan exerted actual undue influence over his mother who had lived in Ramor Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin, and died in April 2018.

The orders were made following an application by a court appointed administrator of Mrs Horan’s estate seeking declarations that Mr Horan unlawfully set up…