Grief-stricken relatives of the wealthy financier who was allegedly murdered by his mentally ill son at a swanky Irish resort said the family patriarch was committed to supporting his troubled child.
John McGowan, 66, of New Canaan, Connecticut, was found unconscious in a recreation area of Ballyfin Demesne, an exclusive luxury hotel in Ballyfin, County Laois, on Tuesday evening, according to police.
His son, Henry, 30, of Brooklyn, was arrested and charged in connection with his death, which police are calling a “fatal assault,” British and Irish media reported.
“He did everything he could to get his son Henry, who suffers from a serious mental illness, the help he so desperately needs,” the heartbroken family said. said in a statement to the New York Times.
“The family requests privacy at this difficult time and would like to make no further comment.”
Concerned for his disturbed son, McGowan left his multi-million dollar home for Ireland on Monday after learning his heir was on an aimless journey through Europe, sources told The Post.
McGowan, a partner at a New York investment firm, was reluctant to rush to his son’s aid — something he had done before — because he knew how serious his condition was.
Henry was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in January 2022 after experiencing a manic episode that left him hospitalized. he wrote on a fundraising page for the New York City Marathon for the National Alliance for Mental Health.
The caring father arrived in Ireland on Tuesday and checked into the posh resort just hours before his death, sources said.
McGowan was later pronounced dead after police found his lifeless body at 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 on Thursday morning and was remanded to Cloverhill Prison, the BBC reported.
His lawyer, Barry Fitzgerland, told the court that his client suffers from significant mental health problems and requested a psychiatric assessment in prison, according to the BBC.
The incident remains under investigation, police said.
Henry is due back in court on November 18.
