Notwithstanding anything in subsection three of this section, application may be made to the Court, after notice to the personal representative, for leave to bring the proceedings at any time before the expiration of six years after the date when the cause of action arose, whether or not notice has been given to the personal representative under subsection three of this section; and the Court may, if it thinks it is just to do so, grant leave accordingly, subject to such conditions (if any) as it thinks it is just to impose, where it considers that the failure to give the notice or the delay in bringing the proceedings, as the case may be, was occasioned by mistake or by any other reasonable cause or that the personal representative was not materially prejudiced in his defence or otherwise by the failure or delay. No distribution of any part of the estate of the deceased made before the date of the giving of the notice of the intended application shall be disturbed by reason of the application or of an order made thereon.”

A tortfeasor may recover contribution under this section from the husband or wife or the former husband or wife of the person by whom the damage was suffered, in any case where he could have recovered such contribution if the marriage relationship had never existed.”

This section shall bind the Crown.”