Financial settlements and provisions aren't always an accurate reflection of family relationships, and when they are, we can't always know exactly what precipitated such decisions.
A real example: A sister (with no children) is the sole beneficiary of a parent's will. Her brother (with two) is left nothing. During their parent's serious illness, the sister was there for the mother whereas the brother stopped calling and 'disappeared' until the crisis was over. This isn't the reason for the will's provisions, though. Why? The brother has substantial assets which he built using loans from both the parent and sister - which he has never paid a penny back. This was always kept quiet in order to preserve his dignity. If something was to happen to his assets, provision would be made for his children, but as the will stands, only the sister inherits.
To outsiders it seems that the illness breach is the reason behind all this but it isn't. It simply is that the brother has £ of his own - and his sister's inheritance will redress the balance of how he acquired that money.
Family finances are minefields - just look at GVI and EVIII. Irene's motivations may have been justified or not - can we ever really know, or judge ?
