AN ongoing rift over the will left by an aunt is splitting the staunchly Catholic Hamel-Smith family at the seams.

Sources told TnT Mirror that the prominent French Creole family that donates large sums of money to Catholic institutions almost every year may soon have a good ole “cuss out” since some members are questioning the verity of their aunt Monica Hamel-Smith’s will.

Monica died on July 7, 2000 but even before that one heir Michael Hamel-Smith had filed a writ in the High Court asking for full disclosure of both the will of Monica and the Trust Fund made by his grandmother Dorris Hamel-Smith.

In her Trust Fund, she indicated that all of her 24 grandchildren would be provided for with sums of money and certain shares being given to them upon her death.

But it was later discovered that some of her grandchildren were left out from obtaining their share of the inheritance, valued to be in the millions.

Six of the 24 grandchildren, it is said, never received one cent (because their father and Doris’ son, Raymond, remarried) and were excluded from benefiting from the Trust Fund.

The trustees were Anthony Hamel-Smith and David Hamel-Smith.

Anthony died on November 23, 1993, but in his will left all his possessions for his wife, Monica, and with specific instructions that when she dies she must leave both of their monies, shares and properties for the original 24 grandchildren, inclusive of the six that he was instrumental in leaving out of the Trust Fund.

The reason for doing so, according to one well-placed source, was that it was Anthony’s way of absolving himself for past misdemeanours, in the tradition of a good Catholic.

He therefore requested that all his belongings be passed onto the grandchildren.

Even Monica who died on July 7, 2000, was said to have had some shady dealings, as there is suspicion among some family members that she hid thousands of dollars worth in shares.

“In the inventory, it says that Moto Limited is worth close to $3 million but I do not think that is the correct figure,” said the source.

All concerned parties did not know of Monica’s will until one year after she died.

And during the probate, another irregularity occurred when an estimated 63,859.35 (pounds) was not added to the original inventory.

It was brought into the open another year later.

Documents obtained by the Mirror showed the joint account holders Monica Louie Hamel-Smith and another family member within the legal profession.

Sums of money were added into the account, which was kept in an offshore bank called Natwest in Jersey, Channel Islands from May, 2000 to December 2001.

The money was withdrawn sometime between December 21, 2001 and March 20 2002.

It was registered in the inventory between October 15, 2001 and September 30, 2002.

“That means that the money was in the hands of someone for a while before it was brought forward,” the source said.

“I heard that it was after the account holder was taken to court for another matter that the money was registered.

“Why?”

Meanwhile, there were two executors to the will, one of whom stepped down due to conflict of interest issues.

“There are some family members living a very poor life.

“Why is it that the writ that Michael filed has not had its day in court?

“What is the delay?” questioned the source.

Other members within the family circle (that includes the Leotauds, DeVerteuils and Colliers) who stand to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in inheritances are also beginning to question the delay.

They claim that many people do not want to see Raymond’s first six children from the previous marriage gain any shares since they could question the validity of certain accounts books.

The matter raised by Michael is still tied up in the courts and some members are not only frustrated but also suspicious.

It is no relief to them that it’s business as usual re some of the assets.