Claims over ex-judge
Widow tries to block former partner’s accusation
THE widow of a former Cairns District Court judge is trying to strike out a court claim by the late judge’s ex-wife for a share of his $6m estate.
Therese Ryan, who was married for five years to Brian Harrison, who later became a judge, claims in a court affidavit he was extremely violent and abusive towards her.
Ms Ryan, a former barrister, who was divorced from Harrison in 1993, claims he assaulted her and deliberately set fire to their Rockhampton home.
Harrison died in October, last year, aged 69, leaving most of his $6m estate to his third wife, Rampai Kumkuang, his former carer and housekeeper whom he married in 2018.
In July – 27 years after the divorce – Ms Ryan filed an application for further provision for proper maintenance and support, out of the late judge’s estate. Ms Ryan, a disability pensioner, said she was seeking $2.36m.
Rebecca Treston, QC, for the estate, told the Supreme Court Ms Ryan was not entitled, as a former spouse, to any provision from the estate.
Ms Ryan said in her affidavit she and Harrison, then a barrister, were in a de facto relationship from 1987, they married in 1988 and later had a daughter. She never remarried.
“After our marriage ... the deceased became very controlling and abusive on all levels; financially, emotionally, psychologically and physically,” Ms Ryan said in the affidavit. “This was my first experience with domestic violence and it devastated me and resulted in my lifelong symptoms of depression, anxiety and ... mental torture for me.”
She said Harrison controlled her life and if she did anything he did not approve of, “he would erupt into one of his wild, violent and dangerous rages”.
Ms Ryan said the domestic violence culminated with Harrison deliberately setting fire to their home on June 2, 1991.
Solicitors for the estate applied for an order to strike out Ms Ryan’s claim, which was heard in her absence in the Supreme Court on Thursday.
Ms Ryan’s counsel, Gerard Forde, was unsuccessful in having the hearing adjourned, because Ms Ryan’s mental health condition currently prevented her from instructing solicitors. Justice Glenn Martin reserved his decision.