A Brooklyn, New York City man has been charged in connection with the death of his father at one of Ireland’s most exclusive hotels, where the nightly rate can reach $23,000.
Henry McGowan, 30, of Clinton Street, Brooklyn is accused of murdering his father John McGowan, 60, who was discovered unconscious in a bathroom in the Ballyfin Demesne Hotel in County Laois, approximately 65 miles southwest of Dublin, on Tuesday evening, November 12. Emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene.
The younger McGowan was arrested at the hotel shortly after the discovery. The victim had only flown into Ireland hours before the incident, having traveled from the United States after hotel staff reported his son was acting erratically. According to law enforcement officials, no weapons were used in what they described as a sustained assault.
The Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police service, detained the suspect under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He appeared before Portlaoise District Court on Thursday morning, November 14, where Judge Andrew Cody remanded him in custody to Cloverhill Prison. Defense solicitor Barry Fitzgerald informed the court that his client has significant mental health issues and requested immediate medical assistance, which the judge granted.
Investigators established an incident room at Portlaoise Garda Station and appointed a Senior Investigating Officer to lead the probe. The Garda Technical Bureau and Office of the State Pathologist were called to assist with the investigation.
The Ballyfin Demesne Hotel, set within a 614-acre estate near the Slieve Bloom mountains, has hosted numerous high-profile guests. Celebrity visitors have included George Clooney and his wife Amal, as well as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who spent their honeymoon at the property in 2014.
The hotel’s website describes the property as “a place of history and romance, of tranquility and great natural beauty.”
A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to support the victim’s family. The case has been adjourned to November 18 for a hearing to be conducted by video link. The Garda Síochána stated that investigations are ongoing, and they are not seeking any additional suspects in connection with the case.
