The Charitable Donations and Bequests (Ireland) Act 1844[1] or the Charitable Bequests Act was introduced by Sir Robert Peel in 1844, in an attempt to win over moderate Catholic support. The act enabled Catholics to leave money and items in their last will and testament to the Catholic Church. The act made parish priests less dependent on their parishioners for financial support.
References
- 1.The citation of this Act by this short title was authorised by the Short Titles Act 1896, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the Interpretation Act 1978.