A New York man has been charged with murdering his father, a wealthy investor, at a five-star hotel frequented by Irish celebrities. This was after his father came to help him overcome a mental crisis.
Henry McGowan, 30, of Brooklyn, appeared in Portlaoise District Court on Thursday morning to face charges related to the death of his father, John McGowan. BBC reported.
McGowan, an elderly man in his 60s, was found unresponsive on Tuesday night in the leisure area of the upmarket Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Ballyfin, County Laois, about 105 miles south-east of Dublin. According to RTÉ News.
Henry was traveling through Europe on an aimless trip that turned into a mental health crisis, sources told the Post.
John travels to Ireland to save his troubled son and seek treatment. This was something we had done before.
Sources said the caring father arrived in Ireland on Tuesday, hours before his death.
Barry Fitzgerald, defending Henry McGowan, said his client had serious mental health problems and had requested that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation in prison, the BBC reported.
Just last year, Henry McGowan received accolades for running the New York City Marathon as part of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“If you are struggling, please seek help. Or if someone close to you is struggling with mental illness, please offer help.” he told ABC 7 New York at the time..
“What's so great about this organization is that it doesn't just focus on individuals with mental illness, it actually focuses on that individual's family and empowers them and educates them to help them. Because there are,” he added.
Judge Andrew Cody remanded Mr McGowan in custody at Cloverhill Prison and adjourned the case until November 18.
The incident remains under investigation, according to police.
Ballyfin Demesne is one of Ireland's most exclusive hideaways and has hosted celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in the past during their 2014 honeymoon. ABC News pays attention.
Set on 614 acres of lush grounds, this luxury resort offers accommodations with just 20 guest rooms and private gardener's cottages. per website — ranging from approximately $800 to $1,977 per night, According to TripAdvisor.
Records show Henry McGowan lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn Heights. John McGowan, head partner of a New York stock trading brokerage, lived in a multi-million dollar home in Connecticut. Daily Mail reported.
