High Court hears evidence on dementia in €3m farm inheritance dispute in Co Limerick
Damien Quane is seeking to overturn the will of his late uncle, 93-year-old bachelor farmer Thomas Doherty, claiming the 2013 will that left the €3m, 58-hectare farm at Home Farm, Elton, Knocklong, Co Limerick to another nephew was made under undue influence from the deceased's priest brother, Fr Patrick Doherty. Thomas Doherty had previously made four wills between 1997 and 2007 leaving the farm to Quane, but revoked them in 2013. At a High Court hearing in 2026, new documents indicated that vascular dementia in Thomas Doherty was raised as far back as 2007, and an interim injunction was granted to restrain the sale of the land pending a hearing date. Fr Patrick Doherty died in 2025, a year after Thomas Doherty.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court25 Jun
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Thomas Doherty was a 93-year-old bachelor farmer who owned a 58-hectare holding at Home Farm, Elton, Knocklong, Co Limerick.
- Thomas Doherty made four wills between 1997 and 2007 leaving the farm to his nephew Damien Quane, then revoked them in 2013 and left the land to another nephew.
- Damien Quane claims the 2013 will was made under undue influence from the deceased's priest brother, Fr Patrick Doherty.
- Fr Patrick Doherty returned permanently to Home Farm in 1993 from Wisconsin, US, following allegations of improper behaviour with young men and alcoholism.
- When
- Thomas Doherty had a heart bypass in 1999, and by 2015 he was admitted to a nursing home suffering from dementia.
- Fr Patrick Doherty died in 2025, a year after Thomas Doherty.
- In court
- At a High Court hearing in 2026, new documents indicated that vascular dementia in Thomas Doherty was raised as far back as 2007.
- An interim injunction was granted to restrain the sale of the land pending a hearing date.
- Other details
- The auction to sell the land was due the following Wednesday.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThomas Doherty was a 93-year-old bachelor farmer (irishtimes.com)
- whatThomas Doherty made four wills between 1997 and 2007 leaving the farm to his nephew (irishtimes.com)
- whatThomas Doherty revoked those wills in 2013 and left the land to another nephew (irishtimes.com)
- whatFr Patrick Doherty returned permanently to Home Farm in 1993 from Wisconsin, US (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe return followed allegations of improper behaviour with young men and alcoholism (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe auction to sell the land was due the following Wednesday (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe farm was a 58-hectare holding at Home Farm, Elton, Knocklong, Co Limerick (irishtimes.com)
- whenThomas Doherty had a heart bypass in 1999 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe priest Doherty died in 2025, a year after Thomas (irishtimes.com)
- whenBy 2015, Thomas was admitted to a nursing home suffering from dementia (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 25 Jun2026Uncle may have had dementia longer than thought, court told in €3m farm inheritance case
Reports on the High Court hearing where new documents suggest the uncle's vascular dementia was raised as far back as 2007, and that an interim injunction was granted to restrain the sale of the land pending a hearing date.
victim, Damien Quane, male, irish (judged from name)Damien Quanevictim, Thomas Doherty, 93, male, irish (judged from name)Thomas Dohertysuspect, Patrick Doherty, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dohertysuspect, male, irish (judged from name)