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.

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.

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