A MAN who was given power of attorney over the estate of the late art collector Gordon Lambert has denied claims he had locked Mr Lambert away from his family.
Former RTÉ press and information executive Anthony Lyons was continuing his evidence in the High Court challenge by members of Mr Lambert's family over a will made in 2003 by Mr Lambert, who died in January 2005.
Mr Lyons also denied he exercised undue influence on Mr Lambert.
The court previously heard that Mr Lambert, a former managing director of Jacob's Biscuits, had made 31 wills over 25 years.
The challenge is being brought by Mr Lambert's niece, June Lambert, Pembroke Lane, Dublin, and her cousin, Mark Lambert, Rathdown Park, Greystones, Co Wicklow.
They want to have the will struck down, along with a condition disqualifying any beneficiary who challenges it.
The proceedings are against Mr Lyons, Churchtown, Dublin; Olive Beaumont, Heytesbury Lane, Ballsbridge, Dublin, a trustee of the Gordon Lambert collection and a senior curator at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and Catherine Marshall, Kevin Street, Dublin.
There is no claim of impropriety against Ms Beaumont or Ms Marshall. All three executors reject the claims.
On the ninth day of the hearing yesterday before Mr Justice Roderick Murphy, Mr Lyons said he had not sought to exercise any control over Mr Lambert in relation to making his will.
When asked by his counsel, Frank Callanan SC, to comment on suggestions "in the air" that Mr Lyons had locked Gordon Lambert away from his family, Mr Lyons said these were ridiculous.
Asked about claims by a carer of Mr Lambert that Mr Lyons instructed her to report whatever went on and to let him know of visitors, Mr Lyons said that was "totally incorrect". He also denied giving instructions that the family were not to be informed in the event of Mr Lambert's death. "Neither I nor Mr Lambert ever contemplated his death," he said.
He said Mr Lambert had three mobile phones and a landline and was on the phone "the whole time". Under cross-examination by James Gilhooly SC, for the plaintiffs, Mr Lyons said he had never seen any of Mr Lambert's draft wills. "I didn't realise I was in his wills at all. I don't have an interest in other people's money. I always earned my own."
The hearing continues today.