Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1309Death (inquest – narrative verdict) · Co. Offaly · 15 Apr 2023

Coroner rejects Garda probe into farmer's death a day after secret marriage in Tullamore

Joe Grogan, a 75-year-old man, died at his home in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly on 15 April 2023, 24 hours after marrying his part-time carer, woman Lisa Flaherty, who was 26 years his junior, in a registry office unknown to his relatives. Grogan had been diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in January 2023, and Flaherty stands to inherit the 220-acre farm valued at €5.5 million as his widow. A three-day inquest concluded on 15 July 2025 with coroner Raymond Mahon returning a narrative verdict attributing the death to probable infection, rejecting a referral to the gardaí for a detailed forensic investigation and the suggestion of unlawful killing. Mahon retired following the case.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Joe Grogan, 75, died at his home in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly on 15 April 2023.
  • He married his part-time carer Lisa Flaherty, who was 26 years his junior, 24 hours before his death in a registry office unknown to his relatives.
  • Grogan was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in January 2023.
  • Flaherty is a special needs assistant and mother of three who stands to inherit the 220-acre farm valued at €5.5 million as his widow.
In court
  • A three-day inquest concluded on 15 July 2025 with coroner Raymond Mahon returning a narrative verdict attributing the death to probable infection.
  • The coroner rejected a referral to the gardaí for a detailed forensic investigation and the suggestion of unlawful killing.
Other details
Coroner Raymond Mahon retired following the case.
6 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJoe Grogan, 75, died at his home in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly on 15 April 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHe married his part-time carer Lisa Flaherty 24 hours before his death in a registry office unknown to his relatives. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJoe Grogan was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in January 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLisa Flaherty is a special needs assistant and mother of three who was 26 years junior to her husband. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLisa Flaherty stands to inherit the 220-acre farm valued at €5.5 million as his widow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtCoroner Raymond Mahon retired following the case. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jul2025
    Otheririshmirror.ie, first report
    Coroner rejects Garda probe into farmer's death a day after 'secret' marriage

    Three-day inquest concluded with coroner returning a narrative verdict attributing death to probable infection; rejected referral to DPP/gardaí and rejected suggestion of unlawful killing; coroner retired following the case.

    victim, Joe Grogan, 75, male, irish (judged from name)Joe Grogansuspect, Lisa Flaherty, female, named, irish (judged from name)Lisa Flaherty