A multi-millionaire Irish developer must pay his estranged wife a lump sum of almost €14million following their divorce, a judge at the High Court in Britain has ruled.

Donal Gallagher, 50, part-owner of the Galldris group, and Brid Gallagher, 44, who have three children together, had fought over money at a recent private family court hearing in London.

Judge Nicholas Mostyn, who heard Mr Gallagher moved to London in 1989 with "just £1 in my pocket" and worked as a labourer, has outlined the detail of the case in a written ruling published online. The judge has named Mr and Mrs Gallagher in his ruling and said they could be named in media reports of the case. He said Mr Gallagher had proposed that Mrs Gallagher should get £6.6million (€7.6million), but that she had proposed an overall award of £18million (€20.7million).

Judge Mostyn concluded she should get a package of "cash and properties" totalling £14,237,623 (around €16.4million) - including a lump sum of £12,129,209 (almost €14million). The judge concluded the "overall value" of their assets was about £35million (€40.32million) and said Mrs Gallagher's total package represented "40.2% of the total assets".

He added: "It goes without saying that with £14,237,623 the wife will be able amply to meet her needs and that with £21,219,261 and his earnings the husband will be able to meet all of his."

In Association with

The judge said Mr Gallagher should pay in instalments.

He noted that Mr and Mrs Gallagher had run up an "extraordinary" £1.6million (€1.84million) in lawyers' bills during their legal fight. Judge Mostyn said the couple had met in Donegal nearly 20 years ago when she was undertaking a post-graduate teaching diploma and he was living and working in London.

Mr Gallagher had moved to London in 1989, with "just £1 in his pocket", and worked as a labourer, the judge said. After a period of being in a long-distance relationship, during which the future Mrs Gallagher completed her education and taught for one year in a primary school in Dublin, she moved to London in July 2005 to live with him in his council flat.

They became engaged in December 2006 and married in July 2008, the judge said.

"The financial history of the marriage is a story of ever-rising prosperity and ever-increasing standard of living," said Judge Mostyn.

He said Mr Gallagher had begun by working as a sole trader and subcontractor, and in March 1998, after meeting his current business partner, Sean O'Driscoll, they set up Galldris.

From March 1998 to Christmas 1999, the husband was solely responsible for Galldris.

In 2000, Mr Gallagher and Mr O'Driscoll purchased land in Hertford for development, and in May 2002, ODG Plant Hire Ltd was incorporated.

Mr Gallagher then bought a number of investment properties in 2003, some of which were later sold to help fund the refurbishment of the matrimonial home.

By 2005 the business was prospering.

Mrs Gallagher worked as a fulltime teacher, but stopped after her children were born.

The property portfolio grew until 2007, when it plateaued, but Galldris continued to grow significantly, the judge said.

The couple bought their final matrimonial home together in January 2015, moving in a year later. However, they separated in November 2019.

Mrs Gallagher filed for divorce in March 2020, and a decree nisi was granted the following March. The judge said the final decree absolute has not yet been given.