A Co. Mayo curate has been awarded 27 per cent of a Donegal home he once shared with a former Franciscan friar - with whom he was in a relationship.

Ballina-based Father Gabriel Rosbotham had claimed he is entitled to half ownership of Rose Cottage, Letterbarra near Donegal town.

However, Hugo Crawford, who bought the house and still lives in it, is disputing his claim.

Fr Gabriel told Donegal Circuit Court that after their relationship ended they agreed to have the house valued, sell it and split the proceeds evenly.

Mr Crawford rejected claims by Fr Gabriel that he regularly repaid the loan, paid bills and bought groceries and furniture.

Today, Judge Keenan Johnson said that he had calculated ownership of the property based on the amount of money he believed each party had contributed to it.

Judge Johnson found that Fr Rosbotham had contributed €22,500 while Mr Crawford’s contribution was €59,000.

Fr Rosbotham was awarded 27 per cent of the property with Mr Crawford getting a 73 per cent share of any future sale.

Crawford and Rosbotham met in the 1970s at Galway University and again a decade later while Franciscan brothers.

Crawford purchased the house, after leaving the order, for £25,000 in 1994. At the time Rosbotham was still a Franciscan at and, having taken a vow of poverty, was not permitted to own any property.

In 2000 and 2002 Crawford applied to add Fr Rosbotham to the title deeds. Rosbotham was no longer a Franciscan at this point.

However, the relationship ended over what Fr Rosbotham described as "interference" from Mr Crawford family.

In summing up Judge Johnson said it was “unfortunate” the matter came to be heard in court and the case struck him as one “tailor-made for mediation”.

“Had the parties agreed to mediation, the matter could have been dealt with in private, with each of the parties retaining ownership of the ultimate resolution.”