A reality television personality from Made in Chelsea has launched a multi-million-pound High Court battle against the widow of his mother's former partner, claiming he was unjustly excluded from the wealthy man's will.
The £38 Million Estate at the Heart of the Dispute
Lonan O'Herlihy, a 36-year-old personal trainer known as the 'Posh PT', is seeking a £5 million share from the estate of the late Hugh Taylor, a property dealer and collector of classic cars and aircraft. Mr Taylor, who passed away in 2019, left an estate valued at £38,540,357. The bulk of this fortune, including a World War II Hawker Hurricane plane, classic cars, and high-end properties, was bequeathed to his wife, Jennifer Taylor, in a will made in 2015.
O'Herlihy's mother, Pamela, was in what the court described as a 'committed romantic relationship' with the multi-millionaire between 1995 and 2003. During this eight-year period, O'Herlihy and his brother lived with Mr Taylor in his Tudor manor in Gloucestershire as a 'family unit'. The reality star told the court that Mr Taylor was a 'father figure' to him, paying for his private school fees at Malvern College, his university education at Oxford Brookes, and providing him with generous gifts, including a £40,000 Audi and a £5,000 watch.
A 'Father Figure' or an 'Opportunistic' Claim?
O'Herlihy's barrister argued that the millionaire assumed 'parental responsibility' and maintained him financially until his early twenties. He stated that Mr Taylor had discussed his real estate business with O'Herlihy and promised he would eventually manage and inherit parts of the empire. 'Hugh gave Lonan every reason to expect continued support,' the barrister said, claiming his client made life choices based on these assurances.
However, O'Herlihy contends his relationship with Mr Taylor deteriorated after the millionaire married Jennifer in 2010, claiming he was gradually 'cut out' of his life and was not permitted to attend his funeral in 2019. He now says his finances are 'precarious', with debts exceeding £150,000 and no capital assets, and he needs the funds to maintain the lifestyle he was raised to expect.
In a fierce rebuttal, lawyers for Jennifer Taylor labelled the claim as 'opportunistic' and a 'wish list of greed'. Richard Wilson KC, representing the widow, highlighted a list of demands O'Herlihy had sent, which included:
- A £3 million property in South Kensington
- A classic Mercedes 280SL Pagoda car worth £250,000
- A Patek Philippe watch
- A painting by Melehior D'hondecoeter
- £800,000 for an investment property
'This is a world away from reasonable provision,' Mr Wilson argued. 'The claimant is 36, university-educated, in good health, and earns around £70,000 a year net. He has no need for maintenance.' He also pointed to a 2012 email in which Mr Taylor had 'disavowed' any ongoing financial obligations to O'Herlihy.
Legal Hurdles and a Delayed Claim
The court heard that O'Herlihy is seeking permission to bring his claim outside the usual six-month deadline following a death, arguing he lacked the knowledge and means to act sooner. Mr Wilson opposed this, describing the case as 'the flimsiest of claims' brought after a 'substantial delay' and once the estate had already been distributed.
The hearing continues as a judge considers whether the Made in Chelsea star, who has also appeared in Men's Fitness magazine and counts celebrities like Ed Westwick among his clients, has a valid case for a share of the multi-millionaire's fortune.
