A reality television star from Made in Chelsea is locked in a bitter High Court battle, alleging he has been left homeless and in financial distress after being written out of his multi-millionaire stepfather's will.
The Lavish Upbringing and Sudden Exclusion
Lonan O'Herlihy, 36, known as the 'Posh PT', is suing Jennifer Taylor, the widow of his mother's former partner, Hugh Taylor. He is seeking a £5 million provision from Mr Taylor's vast £38 million estate, claiming he was promised financial security and gradually 'cut out' after Mr Taylor's marriage in 2010.
The court heard that Mr Taylor, a property dealer and collector of classic cars and planes, was in a committed relationship with Mr O'Herlihy's mother, Pamela, between 1995 and 2003. During this time, he acted as a father figure to Lonan, paying for his private education at Malvern College and his university degree at Oxford Brookes. The family lived together in Mr Taylor's Tudor manor house, Eastington Hall, in Gloucestershire.
Even after the relationship ended, Mr O'Herlihy claims he remained close to Mr Taylor, receiving extravagant gifts including a £40,000 Audi and a £5,000 watch. He asserts he was led to believe he would inherit Mr Taylor's lucrative property business.
A Life of 'Precarious' Hardship Behind a Curated Facade
Following Hugh Taylor's death from Alzheimer's disease in June 2019, his 2015 will left almost his entire fortune to his wife, Jennifer. Mr O'Herlihy received nothing. His barrister, Hugh Jeffery, told Deputy Master William Henderson that his client is now in a 'precarious financial position' with no savings, significant debts, and dependent on friends for accommodation.
Despite his 'highly curated' social media feeds suggesting an opulent lifestyle, the reality is starkly different. The legal battle itself has allegedly cost him his home and his relationship. Mr Jeffery stated that an 'extraordinarily aggressive' letter from Jennifer Taylor's lawyers to Mr O'Herlihy's then-girlfriend, Millie, threatening her with costs, directly led to their separation in March 2025. This left him homeless.
'He has been able to make a reasonable income as a personal trainer...but he has no savings, no capital assets and very significant debts,' Mr Jeffery told the court. Mr O'Herlihy, who trained celebrity clients like Ed Westwick, owes his former partner nearly £29,000 for litigation and living expenses.
A Clash of Perspectives in the High Court
Mr O'Herlihy's claim is being brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. He argues he needs maintenance to support the standard of living he became accustomed to while under Mr Taylor's wing. His legal team detailed a specific list of desired provisions, including a £3m property in South Kensington and a classic Mercedes.
However, Jennifer Taylor's barrister, Richard Wilson KC, branded the claim as 'opportunistic' and urged the judge to refuse it. He argued that an adult child should be expected to 'stand on their own two feet' and that the lavish demands 'would send a shiver down the spine of any wealthy parent'.
The court also heard allegations that Jennifer Taylor sought to isolate her husband from his former family as he showed signs of cognitive decline. Mr O'Herlihy claims that at a 2011 lunch, Jennifer 'screamed' at him that 'it's all for my girls now'. He was not permitted to attend Mr Taylor's funeral.
The hearing, which is considering an application to allow the late claim to proceed, continues. Mr O'Herlihy, who appeared on the eighth series of Made in Chelsea in 2014 alongside Spencer Matthews and Binky Felstead, now faces a defining legal fight over his future and his past.
