Family Law: Man signs over Range Rover at Laois court

A man who owed maintenance signed over his Range Rover at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court.  

The man (38), who cannot be named due to the nature of the proceedings, appeared before the court in connection with maintenance arrears. 

Garda Paul Dooley said the man was brought to court on a warrant as he was over €40,000 in arrears to his ex wife. 

Solicitor Thomasina Connell said Judge Andrew Cody had been dealing with the case. She said the man’s arrears amounted to €43,000 and his “2020 Range Rover was to be signed over to my client”.    

“If you would ask this gentleman to sign it that will bring some clarity in terms of the arrears,” she told Judge Susan Fay.  She said the Range Rover was worth between €30,000 and €35,000. 

The man said “I don’t understand how Irish law works”. He said the money owed was from 2024 and he said he was stopped from working. He also said it was a company car. 

“If I was working I would pay the money,” the man said. 

Ms Connell said the man was to hand over the car. 

The man said he had no NCT and no insurance on the car since March. 

“My client is working but she can’t do it all on her own,” said Ms Connell. 

She said it was potentially the highest ever amount of arrears she had dealt with and she again asked the judge to direct the man to sign over the vehicle as she had the paper work in court. 

The man agreed to sign the paper work and he gave a key to Ms Connell and told her where the car was. 

Judge Fay adjourned the case to a later family law date at Portlaoise District Court.