Straight Irishmen are to marry to avoid inheritance tax

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Matt Murphy, 85, is marrying best friend and carer Michael O'Sullivan, 58
Mr Murphy wants Mr O'Sullivan to inherit his house when he died
In order to avoid paying tax, the pair are now set to marry this Christmas

Published: 12:06 EDT, 20 December 2017 | Updated: 22:35 EDT, 21 December 2017

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Two straight Irishmen are set to get married in the coming days in order to avoid paying inheritance tax when one of them leaves the other his house.

Matt Murphy, 85, asked his best friend and carer Michael O'Sullivan, 58, to marry him as he wants him to inherit his house in Stoneybatter, Dublin when he dies.

The pair have been friends for 29 years and Mr Murphy says giving Mr O'Sullivan his house is a way of paying him back for caring for him in his twilight years.

Matt Murphy, 85, asked his best friend and carer Michael O’Sullivan, 58, to marry him as he wants him to inherit his house in Stoneybatter, Dublin when he dies

Less they marry, Mr O'Sullivan will have to pay an inheritance tax which he could not afford, the pair told Irish radio.

'What happened was, Matt said to me, "Look, I'm going to leave you the house", and I said it was a nice idea but because of tax reasons I'd have to pay half of that to the Government,' Mr O'Sullivan told Liveline.

'So in this case I'm a spouse and if one dies the house automatically goes to the partner.

'I love Matt — not in a sexual way — but Matt said it one of the days and I just thought: "That's not a bad idea".'

The pair say that as Mr O'Sullivan,a father-of-three, cares for Mr Murphy without taking a Carers Allowance, they are saving the state money.

'When we said we would do this, you see Matt can't pay for me to care for him', Mr O'Sullivan told Claire Byrne Live on RTE One.

'We didn't go for the Carer's Allowance because Matt would have to be examined, the house would have to be looked at and Matt's a hoarder.

'This was a solution, I wouldn't get paid by the carers and Matt would get looked after, otherwise Matt would be in a home by now.'

Mr Murphy and Mr O'Sullivan told local news that they intend to marry on December 22 if weather allows, and if not the wedding will be held in January.