Tragic Suicide of Manchester Mother After Bitter £2.7m Property Battle with Ex-Fiancé
A wealthy mother-of-three took her own life by jumping from the balcony of her city centre apartment after claiming her ex-partner had "taken everything I had", a coroner's inquest has concluded. Interior designer Rachel O'Hare, 49, died instantly in the fall from her flat at Victoria House in the Ancoats area of Manchester on June 30 last year.
Bitter Legal Dispute Over Luxury London Home
The inquest heard that Ms O'Hare had been embroiled in a protracted and acrimonious legal battle with her former fiancé, celebrity antiques dealer Owen Pacey, 60, over ownership of a £2.7 million home they had purchased together in the fashionable Spitalfields district of London. The couple, who split bitterly in May 2024, were facing a High Court trial later last year to resolve the dispute.
According to court documents presented during proceedings, Ms O'Hare alleged she had paid for the luxury property in full and claimed it was rightfully hers. She further accused Mr Pacey – whose clients reportedly include Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell, Kate Winslet and Orlando Bloom – of locking her out of the home, preventing her from collecting her belongings, refusing to pay bills, and threatening to "trash" the interior.
Heartbreaking Final Messages Reveal Despair
In a devastating message written on her iPhone three days before her death and read aloud in Manchester Coroner's Court, Ms O'Hare expressed profound despair. "Try to fight Owen better than I did. He took everything I had," she wrote to family members. "I feel a washed up nearly 50-year-old with no skills and no prospects, living in a depressing high rise."
The note revealed a woman struggling with severe mental anguish. She described herself as a "shell, dead inside", full of self-loathing and unable to recognise herself. Despite praising her mother Dorothy Woodall's battle with cancer as that of a "fighter", Ms O'Hare added: "I know I'm being selfish but you wouldn't want this version anyway."
She also disclosed she had taken "too many paracetamols" in a prior incident, leading to vomiting, hives, and muscle wastage. A short hospital admission in early June 2024 was described as the "last straw". Concluding her message with love for her children, she wrote: "I just can't face what's ahead." The note was signed with six kisses.
Family Tributes and Coroner's Conclusion
Coroner Zak Golombek recorded a conclusion of suicide, noting that police had investigated potential third-party involvement and found no suspicious circumstances. A post-mortem examination confirmed Ms O'Hare had no alcohol or drugs in her system at the time of her death.
Mr Golombek acknowledged the family's concerns regarding the behaviour of Ms O'Hare's ex-partner, stating he was "conscious that the family have referred specifically... to certain behaviours by Rachel's ex partner and whether they may have contributed to the state she found herself in." However, he clarified that while not dismissing the evidence, it was not within his remit to make specific findings on those matters.
Ms O'Hare's mother, Dorothy Woodall, told the inquest that the litigation and associated costs with her daughter's former partner had "took their toll". "Her sister and myself helped her but then another tranche of fees came along and I know that was instrumental in her state of mind," she said.
Her sister, Liz Fulton, paid a moving tribute, describing Rachel as someone who "lit up a room". "She cared about everything, was really generous, a good mum, good sister, great daughter and did so much for charity, women's refuges," Mrs Fulton stated.
Background of the Deceased and Dispute
Rachel O'Hare was an interior designer who had established a charity providing toiletries for women fleeing domestic abuse. Her ex-husband, Steven O'Hare – a Cheshire-based investment fund manager and father of her three children – attended the inquest.
The inquest heard that after her hospital admission in early June 2024, Ms O'Hare had been provided with information on crisis support services.
Owen Pacey, a former squatter turned self-made antique fireplace expert, did not attend the inquest. He has denied persuading Ms O'Hare to buy the London house in their joint names, denied being controlling, and stated they had only argued seriously twice. Mr Pacey was approached for comment following the proceedings.
