Estate dispute between horse trainer’s family back in court

A dispute between a mother and her three daughters over the multimillion-euro estate of the late well-known horse trainer and jockey Bunny Cox has returned before the High Court.

The case concerns Sally Cox, widow of John Richard Cox, known as Bunny, and her daughters, Jennifer, Suzanne and Michelle.

The daughters claim undue influence in the transfer to joint ownership of Mr Cox’s Lisnawilly, Dundalk, Co Louth, lands to his wife some months before his death, aged 81, in January 2006.

Seán Sheehan, the solicitor who effected the joint ownership deed, told the court the property was worth an estimated €30 million.

Residue claim

In a 1991 will, Mr Cox left the estate to his wife and, after their son Richard was provided for, the daughters were to get the residue. However, the daughters claim it was always their father’s intention that they should all share in it.

In March 2005, Mr and Mrs Cox signed a joint ownership deed for their home and lands.

In June that year, a new will was drawn up in which the daughters were to get 10 per cent each of the land with 20 per cent held on trust for Richard. Mr Cox was seriously ill with cancer for more than a year before his death.

The case first came before the court in 2018 when a court-appointed administrator sought to have set aside the deed creating joint ownership of March 2005.

Cheque book

The case was settled in 2018. However, due to problems over the implementation of the settlement, it was re-entered and the hearing resumed before Mr Justice Denis McDonald.

Mr and Mrs Cox’s daughter Suzanne told the court she had taken over her father’s role as trainer in the years before his death but her mother did not want that.

Michelle Cox first became aware of the joint ownership transfer to her mother when she came across a cheque book in both her parents’ name.

Michelle said when she asked her father about this, he said it was because he was having trouble with his hand “and went off mumbling saying ‘I hope I can trust her’”.

The case resumes on Friday.