A couple whose relationship "turned sour" have agreed an out of court settlement on how they should split the proceeds of their €500,000 house.
The house that Stephen Ryan and his ex-partner, Therese Noonan, bought four years ago had more than doubled in price, the Circuit Civil Court heard yesterday.
Mr Ryan, of Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin, told his counsel, Martin Collins, he had moved in with Ms Noonan to an apartment attached to her parents' home at Coolmine Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin.
Later the couple decided to buy the house from her parents and paid €210,000 for it despite its market value having been €295,000. They both agreed the house had recently been valued at €455,000.
Mr Collins told Judge Jacqueline Linnane his client, Mr Ryan, was seeking a 50 per cent cut of the net proceeds of the house. Mr Ryan, a barman, maintained he had paid his wages into a joint account from which the mortgage had been paid.
He accepted Ms Noonan, a Montessori teacher, had equally contributed towards bills.
Gary McCarthy, counsel for Ms Noonan, said his client was counter-claiming for a higher percentage of the net valuation on the basis her parents had gifted to her the €85,000 difference in the €210,000 purchase price of the house in 2002 and its then real valuation of €295,000.
The court heard the relationship had turned sour and despite Mr Ryan having left the home in May 2004 he had continued to pay half the mortgage until December 2005. The mortgage redemption figure was said to be currently €156,851.
Following evidence by Mr Ryan, Ms Noonan and her father, with regard to the gift aspect of the house purchase, the parties sought a recess for talks and later told the court the proceedings had been settled.
It is believed the settlement involved an agreed payment to Mr Ryan of more than €70,000.