‘Noise sensitive' woman loses battle with sisters to keep mum's £420k home for her 'emotional support' dogs
A WOMAN has lost a court fight with her sisters to keep their mum's £420,000 home for her "emotional support" dogs.
Sharon Duggan claimed the home in Crawley, West Sussex, for herself after mum Agnes passed away in 2018.
4
4
The "hyper-vigilant and sound sensitive" alternative therapist said she needed the house for her therapeutic rescue dogs.
Sharon took her sisters to court after they tried to claim their share in the home, which was left to all three daughters.
Sibling Brenda, who was supported by third sister Ann, fought the case and won after a judge threw out Sharon's claim.
Sharon had used the 1975 Inheritance Act to argue she deserved "reasonable provision" above her one-third share of her mum's money.
She claimed her special sensitivity and medical ailments, which include dyslexia, fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD, Adjustment Disorder and long Covid, meant she should get at least a life interest in the property.
But while the judge accepted that Sharon has "particular issues," he concluded a flat could not be ruled out as "suitable" accommodation for her.
Central London County Court heard most of Agnes' estate was tied up in her house, where Sharon had lived and cared for her during her final dementia-stricken years.
After Agnes died, the three sisters ended up in court when Sharon refused to move out - citing her acute physical and emotional needs and the plight of her two rescue dogs.
She insisted her problems far outweighed those of her sisters and argued she had "sacrificed" her career to move in and help out her mum in 2014.
Sharon also claimed Agnes was planning to change her will to ensure the house was left to her.
She told the court she spent £30,000 of her own money on funding Agnes' hefty vet bills for her beloved Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross, Lady.
In her written arguments to the court, Sharon insisted that "psychologically she could not cope with living in a flat again".
Her barrister said: "She is anxious that neighbours may cause disturbances and impact upon her ability to sleep.
"She now has two rescue dogs, which help with her mental and emotional well-being, but which makes finding suitable alternative accommodation difficult.
"The claimant maintains that moving from the property would affect her mental health greatly and that having to move into rented or temporary accommodation would further affect her health negatively."
Sharon said she wanted the house transferred to her outright or the right to a life interest.
She also alternatively suggest an order allowing her to buy her mum's old property for a small sum, which would be raised with a mortgage.
But Brenda insisted that Sharon and her pets would be fine in a flat.
Judge Alan Johns said he was "satisfied" there was no promise that the house would go to Sharon alone.
He added: "Given the circumstances in which Sharon occupied the property with Agnes, there's no moral claim strong enough to deprive her sisters of their share of this modest estate."
The ruling means the sisters are each due a third of their mum's estate - although Sharon's share could be wiped out by the court bills for the trial.
4
4
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
13 minutes ago
- Sky News
Ballymena protests: It is hard to see where the violence will end - and it could go on for weeks
The ugly, violent side of this Northern Ireland town was on full display once again last night. Angry mobs went on a rampage through the streets of Ballymena for a second evening as riot police from across this country were drafted in to push back against an escalating ambush. Hours of blaring sirens were punctured by the relentless sound of bricks and petrol bombs landing on police vehicles. The main roads became a war zone with fires in the middle of the carriageway, cars ablaze and the crunch of broken glass at our feet as we walked the streets. Masked and hooded young men were blasted with the water cannon as tensions boiled over in a strained, fragile community. This has been rumbling for days and began when a vigil, held for a girl who was the victim of an alleged sex attack was, according to police, hijacked by anti-immigration mobs. Authorities say "racist thugs" used the incident to plot their attacks on foreign people living locally. One family with three children were said to have hidden in their attic on Monday night as yobs ransacked their home. Another man told me how he had to drag his 84-year-old mum from her home of 40 years "kicking and screaming" as it was simply not safe anymore. "I've never seen anything like this," he said. On Tuesday, many displayed posters on their windows in a desperate bid to ensure their house did not become a target. Others draped union jack flags on full display. "British residents," one piece of paper stated. There is a feeling among the crowds here in Ballymena that the police branding them racists has escalated this row further. In a horrifying twist, we got word in the middle of the night that another house had been firebombed. When we arrived at the scene, it was a charred shell. The property was completely gutted. Neighbours described how several hundred "protesters" had gathered outside before hounding the foreign occupants out. One woman was pacing up and down, crying in distress at what happened. Another man, who lived a few doors, down hinted that this community had "had enough" of "people moving in". He lambasted the media and refused to engage any further. As I drove out of Ballymena at 1.30am I witnessed other families dragging suitcases full of their belongings through the streets. They were flanked by riot police, armed with shields, who helped them to safety in a late-night escape. 1:40 It is hard to see where this ends. The talk here is that this unrest is only just beginning. It could go on for weeks - and already there are questions about the pressure that will pile on police who will be desperate to de-escalate this mess.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
I go to Appleby Horse Fair every year and this is what it's really like and the truth behind claims of animal abuse and antisocial behaviour
A young woman who has been to Appleby Horse Fair every year of her life has hit back at claims of animal abuse and antisocial behaviour. Lara Houlden, 29, loves the gathering of gypsies and travellers so much that she travelled from Lincoln to Cumbria for the annual celebration. And she claims that reports of animal abuse at the festival have been 'blown out of proportion', with welfare issues happening 'wherever you go'. This year cops made a record-breaking number of arrests at the fair - including on where a man allegedly punched a horse. Some 123 people were detained by Cumbria Constabulary, 80 of whom were for drink or drug driving offences. Separately, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) made 372 interventions at this year's fair - down on 438 last year, but up on 288 in 2023. Ms Houlden, who works for a horse holiday business, said: 'With animal welfare issues, you get that wherever you go - even at a local horse show there's always going to be the odd one. 'But with the amount of people and the amount of horses, it's very very rare you will see a genuine welfare issue. 'Obviously horses are going to scrape their leg coming off the box, mine did it himself once, just came off the box and cut his leg. 'But it's very very rare there are actually welfare issues, it's massively twisted in the way it's represented. 'I think it's more to attract attention and draw people in, it's majorly, majorly blown out of proportion - it's very very rare you will see a serious welfare issue within the fair.' The RSPCA, which attends the event annually, says a 'minority' of people at the festival work horses too hard and commit acts of abuse. This year the RSPCA issued 18 warnings; removed, treated and returned 14 equines to their owners; has two ongoing investigations; and is caring for six horses who were abandoned or are subject to investigations; and removed one wild caught bird. In addition, two horses were put to sleep because they were ill, which the charity said was on veterinary advice and with the permission of their owner. On Saturday, police arrested a man after a report of a horse having been punched. Aidan Tomlinson, 22, of Pudsey, Leeds, was later charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and was bailed to attend Carlisle Magistrates' Court on July 14. Cumbria Police also arrested a woman in charge of a horse who had previously been disqualified from controlling animals. She was released under investigation whilst officers investigate. Officers said they had issued 370 traffic offence report tickets during the event in Appleby-in-Westmorland, while 120 vehicles were seized - including those suspected of being stolen, used in a crime, causing an obstruction or driving without insurance. The arrest total compares to 102 last year, and is the highest figure in records dating back more than 15 years - with the closest challenger year being 2009, with 106. Out of the 123 arrests this year, 80 were made during the fair itself while the other 43 were in the weeks leading up to it as part of the overall policing operation. But Ms Houlden - whose mother even went to Appleby while she was in her womb - delighted in the outfits and said she had even met a partner at the fair. She described Appleby as a 'big social event' where people can catch up with friends and enjoy time with horses - and said it cost her just £15 to attend. After getting home from the festival with her four-year-old horse Zorin, Ms Houlden continued: 'It's such a fantastic atmosphere, everybody's so kind and welcoming, the atmosphere's fabulous. 'Everybody's just happy and enjoying themselves, all the horses up and down. 'It's something you've got to see for yourself and experience for yourself at least once, it's something you can never get bored of.' Ms Houlden attends the fair with her mother Vanessa, 60, who has been going for over 50 years and has never missed a year. She said her mother, who has a visual impairment, feels 'safer walking around Appleby than she does walking through our local town'. Despite seeing plenty of glamorous outfits worn at the fair, practical Ms Houlden says she took a different approach. She said: 'Even with the horrendous weather we had on Saturday, there were some lovely outfits to be seen. 'I dressed for the weather, I don't deal with cold very well!' She added: 'I stayed in my car on Fair Hill, which, with the horse box, cost me £15. 'If you take your own food and drink, you wouldn't need to spend more unless you wanted to buy from the market.' Organisers said this year's event was 'one of the busiest in recent years', with a total of 1,307 caravans and bowtops in attendance - up on 1,287 last year but short of the record of 1,318 recorded in 2014. The 2025 figures saw a drop in the number of traditional bowtops to 95, down from 112 in 2024. There were 1,152 caravans, up from 1,078 in 2024, 46 tents and a further six vans, or wagons used as accommodation. Meanwhile there was drop in the number of stalls at the fair this year with overall numbers at 231, including 25 food stalls. This was down on the 268 recorded in 2024 and well below the 2016 record high of 276. Data on arrests each year was compiled by MailOnline from the annual 'Learning Lessons' report released by the Appleby Fair Multi-Agency Strategic Coordinating Group (MASCG), which was established in 2008. Comparative figures are therefore not believed to be available before 2009. RSPCA Chief Inspector Rob Melloy, who oversees the animal welfare operation, said: 'Our interactions with the Fairgoing community have been overwhelmingly positive and interventions, when they've been necessary, have been cordial. 'People may have seen something they're not happy with, if it has been reported to us it has been investigated by our staff. 'Whilst we did see tired horses, none of those who were exhaustion tested were so bad that they needed to be removed from their owners permanently. When they had rested, we were able to return them.' Steph Cordon, chair of the Appleby Fair MASCG, said: 'With poor weather forecast over the weekend of the Fair, which also coincided with the Epsom Derby, we did wonder if caravan and bowtop numbers might be lower this year. 'An initial reading of the count would suggest otherwise, but the recording of vehicles at the fair is now much more accurate using drone technology, so comparisons to previous years is not necessarily a helpful barometer. 'I'm pleased that this year's fair has passed without any major incidents and I'd like to thank everyone involved in the response to the Fair, for their hard work and dedication in making sure that this was the case.' It comes after a huge operation to clear fields of discarded rubbish began yesterday as thousands of travellers headed home – with sofas, wooden furniture, bedding, food and toilet waste strewn across the picturesque countryside. Appleby is billed as the biggest traditional traveller fair in Europe and takes place in the market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland every year. Around 10,000 people from the gypsy and traveller community were expected to attend this year's event, outnumbering the local population of just 3,048 people.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Thieves stole my car using a fiendish new device disguised as a Game Boy. So I tracked it down and stole it back myself: ALEX BANNISTER
This is not the Monday morning I had planned. I was meant to be in a business meeting in west London at 9.30. Instead, it's 9.45 and I'm gingerly venturing into a north London council estate on the rougher edges of Edmonton. My suit and tie are incongruous and I've already attracted the attention of a suspicious-looking local who is monitoring me and my neighbour's every move.
