John Gallagher, the double killer who has voluntarily returned to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin after absconding in 2000, is entitled to an inheritance of just €16,000 from his father’s estate, according to probate documents seen by The Sunday Times.
It has been reported that Gallagher handed himself in last month in an attempt to secure an inheritance worth between €300,000 and €400,000 left by his late father Joseph, a scrap dealer from Co Donegal.
In fact Joseph Gallagher had not written a will when he died almost four years ago. His estate was valued at €437,086 and, under laws governing intestacy, John Gallagher is only entitled to a 27th of this.
Two-thirds of the estate will automatically transfer to Margaret Gallagher, John’s mother, while the remaining third is to be divided among John Gallagher and his eight siblings.
A source close to Gallagher claimed he refused to accept his share of the estate and instead offered it to his mother, who lives in Co Donegal.
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“John didn’t return to hospital to get an inheritance. He doesn’t want any money,” the source said.
“John just wants to do whatever is necessary to put the events of 1988 behind him. He’s a different man now. He has two young children and he’s sorry for what he did but he can’t change the past. He returned to hospital because he no longer wants to have this hanging over his head.”
Some of the Gallagher family had speculated that the killer had turned himself in to be judged sane and allowed access to the inheritance or to have the Health Service Executive administer his estate.
Gallagher, 46, was found guilty but insane after being charged with the murder of Anne Gillespie, his 18-year-old girlfriend, and her mother, Annie Gillespie, whom he shot dead in the grounds of Sligo General hospital in 1988.
He used his father’s legally held shotgun to carry out the killings, after learning of his girlfriend’s plans to end their relationship. He also attempted to murder Patrick Maguire, Anne’s uncle, but the gun jammed.
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Gallagher pleaded “not guilty” at his murder trial in 1989. A defence barrister told the jury that his client had been taking “massive doses” of slimming tablets that could have caused delusions, psychosis or loss of judgment.
He absconded from the Central Mental Hospital in 2000 while on day release.
He initially travelled to Britain where he was arrested but could not be extradited to the Republic of Ireland because he had not been convicted of a criminal offence.
Gallagher moved to Strabane, Co Tyrone, with his wife and two children a number of years ago.
The Criminal Law Mental Health Review Board is expected to make a ruling on Gallagher’s sanity in the next few weeks.
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Gallagher is being represented by Dara Robinson, a Dublin solicitor who specialises in mental health issues.