New York Man, 30, Charged with Murdering His Own Father at Luxury Irish Resort: Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

The historic Ballyfin Demesne hotel under a cloudy sky in Laois, Ireland.Photo:irestock, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo

irestock, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo

A New York man has reportedly been charged with murder, following the death of his father at a luxury hotel in Ireland.Irish authorities charged Henry McGowan, 30, with the murder of his father, 60-year-old John McGowan, after he was found dead at the 5-star hotel Ballyfin Demesne located in County Laois, Ireland on Tuesday, Nov. 12, according toThe Irish Times,BBCand local broadcast stationRTÉ News.John sustained serious injuries following an assault in the leisure center of the hotel and was later pronounced dead, the outlets reported.Local police — known as ‘Garda’ in Ireland — told PEOPLE they responded to the hotel at around 8 p.m. on Nov. 12 and found a 60-year-old man “deceased." They then arrested a 30-year-old man “at a Garda station in the Eastern Region.”Ballyfin Demesne in County Laois, Ireland.AlamyThe Garda did not release the names of those involved and said the circumstances surrounding the death are still under investigation. They added that the Garda Technical Bureau and the Office of the State Pathologist were assisting on the case.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.Henry — who has a Brooklyn, New York address — appeared before Ireland’s Portlaoise District Court on Thursday, Nov. 15, where his lawyer, Barry Fitzgerald, told the court that he had significant mental health difficulties, perBBCandThe Irish Times.Garda car seen in Dublin city center.Artur Widak/NurPhoto via GettyFitzgerald further requested that the man receive a psychiatric assessment while at Cloverhill Prison, where he is being held in custody, which Judge Andrew Cody agreed to.The Ireland courts service did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on this case.Henry’s next court date is scheduled for Nov. 18.

A New York man has reportedly been charged with murder, following the death of his father at a luxury hotel in Ireland.

Irish authorities charged Henry McGowan, 30, with the murder of his father, 60-year-old John McGowan, after he was found dead at the 5-star hotel Ballyfin Demesne located in County Laois, Ireland on Tuesday, Nov. 12, according toThe Irish Times,BBCand local broadcast stationRTÉ News.

John sustained serious injuries following an assault in the leisure center of the hotel and was later pronounced dead, the outlets reported.

Local police — known as ‘Garda’ in Ireland — told PEOPLE they responded to the hotel at around 8 p.m. on Nov. 12 and found a 60-year-old man “deceased." They then arrested a 30-year-old man “at a Garda station in the Eastern Region.”

Ballyfin Demesne in County Laois, Ireland.Alamy

Alamy

The Garda did not release the names of those involved and said the circumstances surrounding the death are still under investigation. They added that the Garda Technical Bureau and the Office of the State Pathologist were assisting on the case.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Henry — who has a Brooklyn, New York address — appeared before Ireland’s Portlaoise District Court on Thursday, Nov. 15, where his lawyer, Barry Fitzgerald, told the court that he had significant mental health difficulties, perBBCandThe Irish Times.

Garda car seen in Dublin city center.Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty

Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty

Fitzgerald further requested that the man receive a psychiatric assessment while at Cloverhill Prison, where he is being held in custody, which Judge Andrew Cody agreed to.

The Ireland courts service did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on this case.

Henry’s next court date is scheduled for Nov. 18.

source: people.com