Irish woman awarded extra ?2m after divorce settlement

Divorce settlements in Ireland could be liable to a legal re-assessment at any time following a landmark high court ruling.

Following a judge's decision to award an Irish woman an additional ?2 million from her ex-husband seven years after the couple divorced, legal experts have suggested that it may become the norm for people to support their former husbands or wives for life, the Irish Examiner reports.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, won the extra ?2 million (£1,365,427) after the court ruled that her former spouse should pay her the sum because his wealth has increased considerably since the time of the original settlement.

She has five children with the businessman, who she married in 1979 and divorced in 2000.

Family law expert and solicitor Geoffrey Shannon told the paper: "In the past it was suggested that the opportunity for further provision in a divorce settlement ended with the granting of the decree of divorce.

"This case suggests that this might not necessarily be the position. This means parties in divorce cases can effectively get another bite of the cherry after their divorce and it will send shivers down the spine of those who think their settlements are final."