‘Greedy’ Made in Chelsea star locked in ‘hostile’ court battle with stepdad’s new wife over £38m fortune
A “GREEDY” Made in Chelsea star is locked in a “hostile” court battle with his ex-stepdad’s new wife over his £38million fortune.
Lonan O’Herlihy – known as the “Posh PT” – was cut from Hugh Taylor’s will following his death in 2019.
Sign up for newsletter
Thank you!
Lonan O’Herlihy is fighting for £5millionCredit: Champion News Service
He wants a portion of the £38million left to Hugh Taylor’s new partnerCredit: Champion News Service
Hugh died in 2019Credit: Champion News Service
He left behind a £38million estate that included classic cars, high end properties and a Second World War era Hawker Hurricane aircraft.
New wife Jennifer Taylor was handed almost all of his fortune in his 2015 will.
The reality star, 36, is now suing Jennifer – claiming Hugh was a “father” figure to him as a child while married to his mum between 1995 and 2003.
Lonan, who grew up in Hugh’s Tudor manor house and had his private school fees and university education paid by him, is seeking £5million, which he claims he needs to maintain an “appropriate” standard of living.
KNIFE TRAGEDY
Teen, 15, charged with murder after girl, 9, found stabbed to death at home
DUKE CHARGE
Churchill’s great nephew the Duke of Marlborough charged with strangulation
Even after he and his mum split, Lonan remained close with Hugh and claims he received “extravagant birthday gifts” – including a £5,000 watch and a £40,000 Audi.
He claims he was gradually “cut out” of Hugh’s life after he married Jennifer in 2010 and was “not permitted” to attend his funeral in 2019.
But he has been accused of drawing up “a wish list of greed” after he allegedly demanded high-end watches, luxury homes and flash cars.
Richard Wilson KC, for Jennifer, said the list included a £3million home in South Kensington, a 1969-70 Mercedes 280SL Pagoda worth £250,000, a Patek Philippe watch, a Melehior D’hondecoeter painting and £800,000 for the purchase of an investment property.
He added: “This is not a claim for reasonable provision for his maintenance. It is his wish list of greed – houses, cars, watches, this is a world away from reasonable provision.
“His approach seems to be: this is a large estate, let’s give Mr O’Herlihy a big chunk of it.
“The claimant’s claim is truly fanciful. It is inconceivable that he would be awarded upon a claim for reasonable financial provision for his maintenance capital assets in excess of £5m, including two properties, a classic car, a luxury watch and a painting. These have nothing to do with the claimant discharging the costs of his daily living.
“Even if he were making more modest demands, the claim would be hopeless because, on any analysis, the claimant does not have any need for maintenance.
“The claimant is 36 years old, university educated, in good health, independent, earns circa £70,000pa net of tax, is without any dependants and should have good future earning prospects.
“Even if one accepts the claimant’s case that he was, for a period, a ‘child of the family’, this relationship ended in 2002 – some 17 years before the deceased’s death – when the deceased and Mrs O’Herlihy separated.”
Lonan said Hugh was like a ‘father figure’ to himCredit: James Gourley
He appeared on season eight of Made in Chelsea alongside Sam Thompson and James DunmoreCredit: Getty
But Lonan claims his current financial state is “precarious” and wants the cash under the 1975 Inheritance Act to let him live the lifestyle he became accustomed to when under Hugh’s care.
The personal trainer, who joined the Made in Chelsea cast for its eighth series in 2014, boasts of his celebrity clients – including Ed Westwick, who played bad boy Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl.
He told the court: “Hugh was a father to me and I was a son to him”.
His lawyer Hugh Jeffery said Hugh had assumed “parental responsibility” for him and maintained him financially until the age of 22 or 23.
This included a monthly allowance of £500 until 2012, his first car in 2006, a £5,000 watch for his 18th birthday and a £40,000 Audi for his 21st.
The barrister said there is a “marked contrast between the lifestyle that Lonan was brought up to expect and his present financial precarity”.
Mr Jeffery said Lonan has “no capital assets whatsoever” and owes debts of over £150,000.
He added: “There is considerable hostility in this matter and the parties are far apart on numerous matters.
“The parties diverge on the qualitative nature of Hugh’s relationship with Lonan. Lonan says it was a loving and close relationship.”
But Jennifer’s lawyer insisted Hugh had “disavowed” any obligations to financially maintain Lonan in an email sent in 2012.
He continued: “In 2015, the deceased made his last valid will, leaving his estate to his wife, Mrs Taylor.
“This was a deliberate and reasonable choice for the deceased to make in the circumstances.
“The deceased’s wishes are a proper factor to take into account and there is no proper basis to interfere with them.”
Lonan is demanding ‘reasonable provision’ from the estateCredit: Champion News Service
Jennifer’s team say he has drawn up a ‘wish list of greed’Credit: Champion News Service
