The Supreme Court has ruled that land co-owned by a man and his estranged wife cannot be sold to satisfy a debt the man owes to the Revenue Commissioners.
The Court refused to grant an order to Revenue for the sale of the lands.
The decision has implications for creditors who want to sell co-owned property to satisfy a judgment obtained against one owner.
Revenue had sought orders entitling them to sell 19 hectares in Co Cork owned by Thomas and Carmel Deasy.
Revenue had obtained three judgments against Mr Deasy.
The High Court ruled in 2006 that the Revenue was not entitled to an order for the sale of the lands and the Supreme Court has upheld that order.
Mr Deasy subsequently reached a settlement with Revenue, but the Supreme Court was asked to determine the issues because of their relevance to other cases.
The Revenue is involved in at least 20 similar cases.
Other cases were deferred pending this decision.
