Millionaire financier allegedly killed by mentally ill son ‘did everything’ to help him before tragedy at swanky Irish resort, heartbroken family says
Grief-stricken relatives of the wealthy financier who was allegedly killed by his mentally ill son at a swanky Irish resort said the family patriarch was devoted to supporting his troubled child.
John McGowan, 66, of New Canaan, Conn., was found unresponsive Tuesday night in a leisure area of Ballyfin Demesne, an exclusive luxury hotel in Ballyfin, County Laois, according to police.
His son, Henry, 30, of Brooklyn, was arrested and charged in connection to his death, which police refer to as a “fatal assault,” British and Irish outlets reported.
“He did everything within his power to bring his son Henry, who suffers from a severe mental illness, the help he so desperately needs,” the heartbroken family said in a statement to the New York Times.
“The family requests privacy at this difficult time and will not be commenting further.”
Concerned for his disturbed son, McGowan left his multimillion-dollar home for Ireland on Monday after learning his heir was traveling through Europe on an aimless trip, sources told The Post.
McGowan, a partner at an investment firm in New York, was antsy to come to his son’s aid — something he had done before — knowing just how serious his condition was.
Henry was diagnosed in January 2022 with bipolar disorder after suffering a manic episode that left him hospitalized, he wrote on a New York York City Marathon fundraising page for the National Alliance on Mental Health.
The caring father arrived in Ireland Tuesday and checked into the ritzy resort, just hours before his death, sources said.
McGowan was later pronounced dead after police found his lifeless body inside the hotel — which caters to celebrities and sits on 614 lush acres and features just 20 rooms ranging from nearly $800 to $1,977 per night, according to TripAdvisor.
Henry — who lives in a two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn Heights — appeared in Portlaoise District Court Thursday morning and was remanded to Cloverhill Prison, the BBC reported.
His defense lawyer, Barry Fitzgerland, told the court that his client suffers from significant mental health issues and requested that he receive a psychiatric assessment in prison, according to the BBC.
The incident remains under investigation, police said.
Henry is due back in court on Nov. 18.
