American Faces Trial for Alleged Murder of Millionaire Father in Irish Hotel
An American man currently on trial for allegedly murdering his wealthy father during a mental health crisis in Ireland once attempted to sacrifice a stranger's baby aboard an international flight, according to shocking testimony presented to a Dublin jury. Prosecutors detailed that Henry McGowan experienced his first diagnosed psychotic episode while traveling to Paris in 2022, during which he tried to snatch an infant from a bassinet for what he believed was a necessary ritual sacrifice.
Flight Incident Preceded Fatal Confrontation
Court proceedings revealed that McGowan, who was thirty years old at the time of the alleged murder, was aboard a flight to Paris when the disturbing incident occurred at thirty thousand feet. According to testimony read in court, McGowan approached a couple with their newborn and attempted to take their baby before being restrained. Upon arrival in Paris, French authorities arrested him, leading to a month-long stay at a psychiatric hospital in the city.
McGowan has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murdering his father, John McGowan, a former head partner at a brokerage firm specializing in New York Stock Exchange trading. The fatal encounter occurred at the luxurious five-star Ballyfin Demesne hotel in County Laois, Ireland, after a series of escalating mental health crises.
Diagnosis and Treatment Preceded Tragic Relapse
Medical professionals diagnosed McGowan with schizoaffective disorder, a complex condition combining symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Following his release from psychiatric care in Paris, he appeared to regain stability and committed to a treatment plan for his bipolar I diagnosis throughout 2023, showing promising signs of recovery and positive life changes.
However, this progress unraveled dramatically in October 2024 when McGowan allegedly relapsed into a severe manic episode and abruptly fled to Europe again. Despite maintaining contact with his family, concerned friends reported alarming behavior, including one acquaintance who met him in London and described him as "roaming the city in a hot pink faux fur jacket and had a wild look in his eyes."
Father's Desperate Transatlantic Journey
John McGowan, upon learning of his son's deteriorating condition, immediately booked a flight from New York to Dublin on November 11, 2024, hoping to intercept his son during his travels. The worried father had left his $1.9 million home in Canaan, Connecticut, to help his struggling son navigate the crisis. Tragically, after McGowan's plane landed in Ireland, he disappeared, and his phone's location services stopped updating.
In a desperate series of events, McGowan called his sister to reveal he had discarded his passport, medication, and phone, and had run over six miles to seek admission at Dublin's Mater Misericordiae University Hospital due to "racing thoughts." When John McGowan rushed to the hospital, staff informed him no beds were available, prompting him to book a luxury hotel for the night with plans to visit a recommended facility the following day.
Failed Intervention and Fatal Outcome
Medical helicopter doctor Lisa Cunningham, connected to the family through mutual friends, attempted to help navigate the Irish healthcare system from approximately 150 miles away. After consulting with a nearby hospital about McGowan's alarming behavior, medical professionals determined he required urgent admission. Cunningham relayed this critical information to the family, but when they tried to update John McGowan, he failed to answer his phone.
After hours of frantic calls to the hotel, police, and John's phone yielded no information, family members finally reached authorities who cryptically stated only that "there was bad news." The tragic truth emerged when a family member discovered a local Irish news article at 11:30 PM reporting that "a man in his 60s has died after he was assaulted in Co Laois" and that "a man, aged in his 30s, was arrested." One of McGowan's daughters immediately texted Cunningham the devastating conclusion: "Henry killed our dad."
Family Remembers Victim and Hospital Responds
John McGowan's children remembered their father as "warm, down-to-earth, intellectually curious and sometimes goofy," describing him as an avid bookworm who loved crossword puzzles and sports. Images from social gatherings showed him socializing with prominent figures like award-winning architect Ted Flato at Hamptons parties, illustrating the contrast between his successful life and tragic death.
In response to inquiries about the case, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital issued a statement to the New York Times emphasizing that their "priority is to be at the frontier of compassion, concern and clinical care for all our patients and their families," while noting they "cannot comment on individual patient cases for confidentiality reasons." The trial continues as prosecutors present evidence about the connection between McGowan's documented mental health crises and the alleged murder of his father at the exclusive Irish hotel.
