Donation of property declared null

A donation of property made by an elderly widow to one of her three daughters has been declared null and void by the courts on the basis that the deed did not reflect the widow's true intentions. The court action was filed in 2010 by widow Pauline Vella Moran, then 79, against her daughter Concetta Abela.  Following Mrs Vella Moran's death last year, her case was continued against Mrs Abela by Mrs Vella Moran’s two other daughters Maryanne Calleja and Josette Bondin. Mrs Vella Moran’s husband had died in August 2005 and in terms of their joint will they had appointed their three daughters as their heirs in equal shares between them. However, following the husband's death, trouble ensued between the daughters and Mrs Vella Moran was torn between them. The trouble escalated and in 2006 when Mrs Abela was charged and found guilty by the Magistrates Courts of having insulted, attacked and injured her mother. In January 2007, Mrs Vella Moran donated her share of two apartments (in a block of three in Birzebbuga) to her daughters Josette and Maryanne.  This donation had not solved the family problems facing Mrs Vella Moran and in August 2010 she made another donation in favour of her...