A woman has told the High Court she would not have signed documents which put her family home at risk had they been explained to her. Patricia Raftery, a mother of three, said she signed documents, including one allegedly surrendering her right to the house under the Family Home Protection Act, because her husband Patrick asked her to.
She did not have her own solicitor and the fact her home would be at risk was not explained to her by any solicitor, she said.
Ms Raftery was giving evidence in an action by the IBRC against the couple seeking possession of their family home at Cloonbrackna Court, Roscommon town. The house was built in 1972 by Mr Raftery, a retired building contractor.
The claim arises from an €87,600 loan given to the Rafterys in November 1992 by Irish Nationwide Building Society, later amalgamated with the nationalised Anglo Irish Bank and renamed IBRC.
Mr Justice John Hedigan urged the parties, “even at this late stage”, to see if some arrangement might be reached.
The case resumes today.