Latest news with #inheritance
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Widow, 50, of millionaire, 75, who died a DAY after wedding ‘broken' by claims she ‘engineered' death to inherit fortune
THE widow of a millionaire who died a day after their wedding is "broken" by claims she "engineered" his death for money. Mum-of-three Lisa Flaherty, who is 50, married dying landowner Joseph Grogan, who was 75, in secret. 4 4 He knew he didn't have long to live after a long fight with blood cancer and had no children. So he married his partner and gave her the right to inherit his estate - but shockingly he died just 24 hours later. Lisa now stands to inherit his 220 acre farm in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, which is valued at €5.5 million (£4.77 million). The timing prompted a slew of claims about Lisa being a gold digger who married him for his money. More insidious claims suggested she had known the millionaire farmer was dying and saw an opportunity to get her hands on the estate. She moved in with him in January 2023 to become his carer when he was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He died three months later. But they previously dated in 1991 - when she was just 16 and he was 41. Lisa went on to marry another man and had three kids who are now in their 20s. But her friends told the Mail that the pair remained close. They said she is "broken" after lawyers for the Grogan family questioned her credibility. Joe Keys, a friend of Mr Grogan, said: "The world can think what it wants but how Lisa has been portrayed is not right. "They were both wonderful people who were very well respected in this community. Lisa didn't care for Joe because she wanted his money, that's total rubbish." A close friend of Ms Flaherty said: "It does sound a bit strange, but this is rural Ireland, strange things happen." The friends and locals claimed Mr Grogan and Lisa remained very involved in one another's lives. However his family insist he was a bachelor, and claimed they were excluded from being involved in his life as his health went downhill. They didn't know Lisa and Mr Grogan had got married and only found out he had passed away after being told by a friend. The coroner said Mr Grogan's death was likely due to a "probability of infection" with his immune system compromised. But he was embalmed within a matter of hours, a time frame Coroner Raymond Mahon said made it difficult to determine a definitive cause of death. A SECRET MARRIAGE During a three-day inquest, Peter Jones, the solicitor representing Mr Grogan's 90-year-old aunt said "an awful lot of unanswered questions" remain. He also pointed to the "undue haste" with which he said the farmer's remains were taken to be embalmed. Barrister Damien Tansey, representing Mr Grogan's cousins, pushed for the Gardai to conduct a forensic investigation before the coroner came to a decision. Coroner Mahon, however, dismissed the suggestion. According to Mr Tansey Mr Grogan's death, which he called "sudden and unexpected" had caused a stir in the community. He went on to claim that the concerns raised by residents of the local area and the medical community had not been addressed by the inquest. A pathologist had confirmed that cancer had not been the cause of death, and neither was organ failure. Pathologist Charles d'Adhemar had warned that if the three medications Mr Grogan had been prescribed were not administered correctly, it could depress his respiratory and nervous systems. Mr Tansey claimed that the speedy embalming procedure meant the pathologist could not test for drugs in the deceased's system. Lisa had repeatedly claimed that her husband had inoperable, stage four cancer and was at the end of life stage - something his family disputed. He added that the secrecy of the marriage was concerning. The coroner said he would not rule on the validity of the marriage. And Stephen Byrne, representing Lisa, said that Mr Tansey had all but accused her of causing Mr Grogan's death. He went on to say that he had been concerned the inquest into Mr Grogan's death would be used to attack her good name. Mr Byrne continued, saying that the person who stepped up and cared for Mr Grogan - Lisa - had been "dragged over the coals." Mr Byrne said: "He knew his own body, and he knew he was not going to beat this [cancer]." The inquest ultimately ruled that Mr Grogan died of natural causes linked to cancer and his treatment. He added that there were "valid concerns" about Mr Grogan's care but said it must be remembered that the deceased was very reluctant to see a doctor. 4
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Joe Grogan inquest: Millionaire farmer died the day after he was married
An inquest doesn't typically hear questions about the consummation of a relationship or the validity of a marriage certificate, and it's not usual for there to be so many lawyers in a coroner's court. But when there's a farm, valued at €5.5 million at stake, and the circumstances around the death are somewhat confused, it's perhaps to be expected. The three-day inquest into the death of wealthy farmer Joe Grogan (75) at his home on April 15th, 2023 heard questions that a coroner's court is not there to answer. Its job is to establish cause of death. Grogan had been married the previous day, to his long-time friend and sometime carer Lisa Flaherty. A clear cause of death could not be established because he had been embalmed within hours. His 220-acre farm at Screggan, near Tullamore is well-known having hosted the National Ploughing Championships for two years and is set to do so again this year. As his widow, Flaherty stands to inherit his estate. READ MORE Members of Grogan's family questioned the validity of the marriage – they said they were unaware it had taken place – and there were heated scenes in the court. Ultimately the coroner Raymond Mahon ruled that the newly-wed farmer probably died of an infection associated with his stage-four cancer, his immune system being compromised because of chemotherapy and significant weight loss. He said the evidence did not support a finding of unlawful killing as had been suggested and he rejected calls by Grogan's extended family to refer the circumstances of the death to the Garda. Irish Times reporter Colm Keena was in court to hear the verdict and explains the background. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
A late billionaire, his ‘princess', and three half-siblings: Wahaha succession battle unfolds
HONG KONG, July 22 — Kelly Zong, long seen as the carefully groomed heir to China's Wahaha beverage empire, is now at the centre of two high-stakes legal battles that could reshape the future of one of the country's most iconic private companies. For decades, Kelly Zong was known as the only child of the late billionaire Zong Qinghou, founder of Chinese beverage giant Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co, according to a Bloomberg report. Her father's efforts to groom her as his successor were praised as a model for succession during China's one-child policy era. Now, however, the so-called Wahaha 'princess' is facing two overlapping legal battles that may shape China's approach to inheritance law and affect Wahaha's reputation. In one case, three people claiming to be her half-siblings have asked a Hong Kong court to compel her to help establish three trusts worth US$2.1 billion. The case, which is based on what the plaintiffs say were Qinghou's instructions before his death, has triggered widespread attention on Chinese social media. Separately, Kong is being sued by former Wahaha employees who want to void a 2018 share buyback, saying the repurchase price was unfairly low, according to sources familiar with the matter. Wahaha's labour union said the buyback had been approved by staff representatives and complied with legal requirements, in a statement posted on Weibo in September. These disputes have renewed scrutiny of Wahaha's leadership and shareholding structure following Qinghou's death and could hinder Kelly's efforts to publicly list the company. The company is also of interest to the Chinese government, with a state-owned firm holding a 46 percent stake, while Kelly owns 29.4 per cent and the company's union holds 24.6 percent, according to corporate data platform Qichacha. 'Chinese family business founders need to take careful note of the Wahaha case,' said Marleen Dieleman, a professor of family business at IMD in Singapore. In court, the plaintiffs said Qinghou had issued handwritten instructions in January 2023 to set up three US$700 million trusts at HSBC in Hong Kong, saying 'if the USD is not enough, convert yuan.' Zong's lawyer said she had agreed to the trust plan in principle, but added that 'we agreed to set up the trusts from the start, but only on the condition that the trust assets would be clearly defined.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: Widow branded a 'gold digger' after secretly marrying super rich farmer a DAY before he died is 'broken' by his bitter family's claims
A widow who was all but accused of murdering her wealthy, much older husband to get his hands on his money has been left 'broken' at the portrayal of her as a cold-hearted gold digger. When Lisa Flaherty, a 50-year-old mother-of-three married dying landowner Joseph Grogan, 75, in secret, he was in the final stages of his long fight against blood cancer. Both Ms Flaherty and Mr Grogan, who had no children of his own, knew he didn't have long left to live, and his motivation was to secure the financial future of the woman who had cared for him - and guarantee her right to inherit his €5.5million estate. As it turned out his death came just 24 hours later and his body was embalmed within hours, making it virtually impossible to determine a definite cause of death. Mr Grogan's passing sparked a bitter war of words between Ms Flaherty and his family, who are fighting her for his 230-acre farm in the rural village of Screggan, a sleepy, forgotten backwater in Co Offaly, central Ireland. They paint a picture of Ms Flaherty as a calculating black widow who, sensing an opportunity to get her hands on his estate, moved in with him in January 2023 to become his carer when he was first diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He died three months later on April 15 of that year. But their story is a lot more complicated than that with her friends keen to point out that it goes all the way back to 1991 when Ms Flaherty was 16 and had just finished school and he was a 41-year-old farmer, some 25 years her senior. They were together for some years before they split when Ms Flaherty reached her early 20s. She went on to marry a local man, with whom she had three children; two girls called Danielle and Emma and a son, Darcy. All are now in their mid 20s. But all the while, say friends, Joseph was an ever-present in her life, in the background and the pair remained close. He was seen very much as a father figure to her son and two daughters growing up, they say. It's why those close to Ms Flaherty told MailOnline that she has been left 'broken' at the suggestion that she 'engineered' his death for financial gain. During an inquest into his death last week, she broke down on several occasions and had to leave the court as lawyers for the Grogan family called into question her credibility – and accusing her of leaving him to die at home by not calling in medics or taking him to hospital. Those close to Ms Flaherty say the uncaring portrayal of her couldn't be further from the truth. Those who know the couple in Screggan, which is made up of a shop, a pub, an off licence, a hair salon and around 100 homes, say behind the salacious headlines lies an unorthodox tale of enduring love and commitment between the two. Joe Keys, who was one of Mr Grogan's best friends said: 'The world can think what it wants but how Lisa has been portrayed is not right. They were both wonderful people who were very well respected in this community. Lisa didn't care for Joe because she wanted his money, that's total rubbish.' A close friend of Ms Flaherty fumed: 'I've known both all my life and I can promise you, they were very much in love. They were committed to each other, nobody cared for Joe like Lisa did, not even his own family. The two of them were inseparable. 'She's the one who was beside him throughout his life and when he needed her most, as he was dying. She did an amazing job, and it wasn't for financial reasons, Lisa is not that sort of person. She's one of the most loving and kind people you could ever meet.' While giving evidence at the inquest, Ms Flaherty indicated that her relationship with Mr Grogan started when she was a teenager. This led to an angry response from Damien Tansey, barrister for three of his first cousins, who claimed that it had caused anxiety to his family as it 'puts Joseph Grogan into the realm of being a paedophile.' But Ms Flaherty's friend explained: 'It does sound a bit strange, but this is rural Ireland, strange things happen. Lisa was very young when she first met Joe, but it wasn't a big deal, she was above the legal age of consent and there was nothing paedophile about his intentions. It was the start of a loving, caring relationship that continued for many years. 'Although they split up when Lisa was in her 20s, Joe remained a big part of her life. He thought of those kids as his own, had Christmas dinner with them every year and at one point, Darcy was even working for him at a quarry he ran on his farm. 'Even though Lisa and Joe went their separate ways, the bond between them was always there and grew stronger. He would always refer to her as 'My Lisa.' They were together even when they weren't together if you know what I mean.' After splitting from her husband, Ms Flaherty raised her children in a modest three-bedroom terraced home located just a five-minute walk from Mr Grogan's detached bungalow, which lies at the entrance to his sprawling farm. She divided her time between the two properties but as his health deteriorated, she virtually lived with Mr Grogan full time and combined caring for him with her work as a special needs assistant in a local school. Ms Flaherty is also a leading figure in women's Gaelic football and has even worked for the sport's governing body to help develop the sport amongst girls. Thomas, who has lived in Screggan for more than 50 years, said: 'Joe was a very big-hearted man, he'd do anything for anyone. Lisa is really involved in local sports and is a pillar of our community. You won't find anyone around here who has a bad word to say about either of them.' But Mr Grogan's family would beg to differ. They insisted during the inquest that he was a confirmed bachelor and that they were excluded from being involved in his life, especially towards his latter days. They were not informed about his marriage and only discovered he had died after being told by a friend. Mr Grogan was an only child who came from a large extended family and had 39 cousins. He inherited his multi-million farm from his father and also received close to £800,000 in compensation after part of it was compulsorily purchased to build a road. A Grogan family source told MailOnline that a family meeting is to be held over the coming weeks where they will consider what further legal steps they can take. The source said: 'Our position is clear. The marriage is a sham and is not valid and we are considering challenging this in the High Court. We also have concerns about the care Joe received or rather didn't receive and this adds to our argument that the police need to investigate. 'We don't want to say too much about Ms Flaherty and what some of the local community think about her because we know what we think. Our lawyers made this clear during the inquest and nothing has changed.' At the inquest, three of Mr Grogan's cousins, Alo, Margaret and Seán were represented by barrister Damien Tansey. His 90-year-old aunt, Teresa Mooney was represented by solicitor Peter Jones. All challenged the validity of the marriage while calling on the coroner to order a police investigation and return a verdict of unlawful killing. But the coroner delivered a 'narrative verdict' which is an account of the circumstances surrounding a death rather than a direct ruling as to its cause. He said that it was probably due to an infection associated with Mr Grogan's cancer, chemotherapy treatment, damage to the immune system, and significant weight loss. He added that there had been 'valid criticism' of his care in the days leading up to his death, but it had to be borne in mind that Mr Grogan did not want to go to hospital. His friends in Screggan also told MailOnline that he had made it clear to them that he wanted to die at home and was not interested in further medical attention. The coroner also said that he could not make any ruling on the validity of the marriage and that the evidence of Mr Grogan's death did not come 'anywhere near' the threshold required for a finding of unlawful killing. Following the inquest, Ms Flaherty has temporarily left Screggan with friends claiming that she needs time to recuperate and 'mend.' But since Mr Grogan's death she has already taken over the management of his farm, which is well known for staging Ireland's National Ploughing Championships. She recently appeared with her three children at a media event to announce this year's competition which will be staged from September 16-18 where she was named as 'Lisa Flaherty Grogan.' As her close friend Margaret maintained: 'She has every right to take Joe's name and his farm. She's the one who did all the hard work and he wanted to make sure she was financially cared for after he died. There's nothing more to this case than that.'
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
‘Wahaha Princess' Reveals China's Uncommon Prosperity
In a country where the government is short on fiscal income and its people are worried about layoffs and salary cuts, $2 billion raises a lot of eyebrows. Kelly Zong, chief executive at one of China's largest beverage empires, is embroiled in an inheritance dispute. Three plaintiffs, identified by their lawyer as her 'half brothers and sister,' are seeking an injunction in Hong Kong to prevent her from dealing with assets worth about that amount. The feud surfaced just a year after the heiress won a battle for control of Hangzhou Wahaha Group following her father's death last February. As Bloomberg News reported, until now, Kelly Zong was the only child the public had known about. Her lawyer says she doesn't accept the evidence and that her father Zong Qinghou's directives were not given to her.
