Widow in tears as 'day before death' marriage is queried at inquest

THE inquest into the death of a farmer is being used to question the validity of his marriage on the day before he died, a coroner's court has heard.

- BY SEAN MCCARTHAIGH

Joe Grogan, 75, was a well-known figure in the farming community whose large landholding had hosted the National Ploughing Championships between 2016 and 2018.

He died at his home in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly on April 15, 2023.

The National Ploughing Association announced last December that this year’s event will be hosted by his wife, Lisa Flaherty-Grogan, on the same farmland on September 16-18.

Exchanges between legal representatives of various members of the deceased's family dominated the opening of an inquest into Mr Grogan's death at Offaly Coroner's Court in Tullamore yesterday.

A large number of various relatives of Mr Grogan attended the inquest including Ms Flaherty-Grogan who cried silently through large parts of the proceedings.

Counsel for Ms Flaherty-Grogan, Stephen Byrne BL, expressed concern that the proceedings were being used to question the validity of his client's marriage to the deceased on April 14, 2023 — the day before his death.

Mr Byrne's comments followed a remark by Damien Tansey SC, counsel for first cousins of Mr Grogan - Alo, Margaret and Sean Grogan - about the couples “would-be marriage”.