02 October 2002

Battle over family heirlooms returns to court

A bitterly divided patrician family, which has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds warring over the fate of £250,000 of family heirlooms, were back in court in Belfast today after failing to reach a last-minute accommodation.

The legal action against Marion Scarlett Needham Russell, brought by her sister Mrs Debonair Norah Needham Horsman, and her brother Philip James Anley – all descendants of the Earl of Kilmorey – stems from Mrs Russell's refusal to return £250,000 worth of antiques she took from the family's ancestral home at Mourne Park.

The Co Down heiress has argued that she claimed possession of the antiques - which are valued at one-third of the total value of the assets of the house – as her part of an inheritance.

Mrs Horsman and Mr Anley want to see the cache returned so that an agreed list over ownership can be drawn up.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Girvan ordered both parties to retire to agree on the lists of heirlooms. However, Justice Girvan said that if the matter is not resolved, "it will be started and I will not entertain an application for a further adjournment from anybody".

The case continued today after both parties failed to find agreement, and Mrs Russell seemed to close the door on a rapprochement by restating her desire to keep the cache of antiques.

Mrs Russell's steadfastness in her position saw her sentenced to 14 days in prison on September 23 for contempt of court after she refused to comply with a court order that she return the heirlooms.

The case continues at Belfast High Court.

(GMcG)