Ball believed, probably correctly, that he was illegitimate since his father had several legitimate daughters but died without a male heir to the barony.
Portlester was, apart from his son-in-law Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, perhaps the dominant Irish statesman of his time,[2] and held office as Lord Treasurer of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
As Chancellor, he was able to exercise judicial patronage and it was entirely due to his influence that Oliver was made Chief Baron in 1482.
[6] He shared in the pardon granted by King Henry VII of England to Simnel's followers in 1488.
[7] Having been removed from office, he was restored in 1491 to act jointly with his former deputy John Burnell.