The feuding descendants of an Ulster peer were warned today that if they cannot agree the extent and value of family heirlooms, an independent expert may be called in.
The warning was given by Mr Justice Girvan in the High Court in Belfast during the resumed hearing of a long-running dispute involving the family of the late Earl of Kilmorey.
The dispute has seen Mrs Marion Russell, a great grand-daughter of the late earl, spending a week in jail for contempt of court after she refused to reveal where she had hidden £250,000 sterling worth of antiques she removed from the family house at Mourne Park, Kilkeel, Co Down.
Mrs Russell was committed to prison on the application of her sister, Mrs Bonnie Horsman, and brother Mr Phillip Anley. Mrs Russell is estranged from her sister and brother following the breakdown of plans to auction off the contents of Mourne Park House valued at around £750,000.
Mr Michael Lavery QC, for Mrs Horsman and Mr Anley, told the court that an inventory of all but one of the 62 rooms in the house had been done.
He said that that agreeing valuations was proving difficult because of omissions and incorrect descriptions on lists of items.
"Mrs Russell wants everything done her way and refuses to work the lists," said Mr Lavery. He said it was costing £1,000 sterling a week to provide security for the furnishings and other items and his clients wished to avoid this expense by having them removed to an auction room.
Mr Frank O'Donoghue, QC, for Mrs Russell, said he was unaware about any problems but his client had no objection to removal in order to prevent pecuniary loss or any decrease in value "so long as the items were properly identified".