Descendants of an Ulster earl were engaged in talks last night aimed at settling a family feud, which has divided them and seen one of them being sent to prison.
Ms Marion Needham Russell - whose ancestor was the Earl of Kilmorey - got out of prison yesterday after serving a week for contempt of court. Within an hour she appeared before the judge who jailed her for contempt. Ms Russell (33), from Kilkeel, Co Down, had defied the judge's order to return family heirlooms and antiques valued at £25,000, which she removed from the ancestral home, Mourne Park House, Kilkeel.
She arrived at the High Court in Belfast with her husband Alan and sat opposite her brother, Mr Philip Anley, and sister, Ms Debonair Horsman, but the parties did not speak to each other. Mr Anley, Mourne Park, Kilkeel, and Ms Horsman, Banbridge, Co Down, had Ms Russell committed to Maghaberry Prison last week for 14 days.
With full remission, Ms Russell was freed and then driven to court yesterday to hear her lawyer ask Mr Justice Girvan to set aside an earlier court order sharing the family silver among the three siblings. Ms Russell had maintained she removed only what she was entitled to, but her brother and sister argued that what was removed had ruined the prospect of a successful auction.
As lawyers made legal submissions it was clear Ms Russell was still in contempt of court as she had refused to reveal the whereabouts of the antiques. This could have led to another application to have her sent back to prison but the judge urged the parties to come to their senses and reach a settlement.
When the case resumed in mid-afternoon Mr Frank O'Donoghue QC, for Ms Russell, asked the judge to adjourn the hearing until this morning. "We are going to endeavour to sit down and formulate an agreement between the parties," he said.
Afterwards, Ms Russell's solicitor Mr Daniel McGreevy, when asked about the prospects of a settlement, said: "I think it is fair to say it is more hopeful now."