RSPCA to appeal after Will challenge

Posted 08/10/2009

The RSPCA is to appeal after a Will in which it was bequeathed more than £2 million was successfully challenged.

A judge ruled that Christine Gill’s mother had been coerced by her domineering father into leaving their assets to the charity rather than their only child.

The RSPCA said that since it is a compassionate organisation, it has tried to settle the matter amicably and outside of the courtroom.

However, its offers were rejected, leading to the case being put before a judge.

A statement from the group conceded that while the affair put it in an “extremely difficult” position, it could not “just walk away”.

“In fact, we are legally obliged to seek the funds under charitable law,” it insisted.

According to figures from Remember A Charity, about seven per cent of people in the UK currently choose to leave a gift to a charity in their Will.