Photo by cottonbro studio
The death of 49-year-old Rachel O’Hare — a respected charity founder and mother-of-three — has cast a shadow over a high-profile property dispute involving her former fiancé, Owen Pacey, a well-known antiques dealer with a celebrity client list. Just days after the latest legal hearing over ownership of their shared £3.2 million Georgian townhouse in London’s fashionable Spitalfields, O’Hare was found dead outside a Manchester apartment block in circumstances police say are “non-suspicious.”
Her sudden passing has brought a deeply personal and complex civil case to a tragic close — one centred on love, luxury, and alleged betrayal.
🏘️ The Property at the Heart of the Dispute
The home in question is no ordinary residence: a five-storey, 18th-century Georgian mansion, exquisitely restored with Italian marble fireplaces, chandeliers, designer furniture, and hand-picked art. It was supposed to symbolise a new chapter for the couple. Instead, it became the epicentre of a courtroom feud.
According to legal filings, O’Hare argued she financed the 2021 purchase using the proceeds of her divorce from millionaire investor Steve O’Hare — the co-managing partner of Equistone Partners Europe — and a personal loan. She claimed Pacey, 60, agreed to reimburse her and give her half of his £5 million fireplace business until he could pay his share.
But in the end, she alleged he locked her out, refused to pay bills, and threatened to “trash” the house’s lavish interiors.
📃 What the Legal Documents Reveal
Documents lodged at the High Court show:
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The pair jointly signed a clause stating if one partner died, the other would inherit full ownership of the property.
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O’Hare insisted this clause was based on mutual trust and Pacey’s promise to reimburse her.
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She claimed he agreed to formalise her stake in his business and share renovation costs, including a staggering £14,000 spent solely on radiator valves.
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The relationship eventually soured, with O’Hare accusing Pacey of “controlling behaviour” and alleging emotional abuse — matters that escalated to police involvement.
Their legal battle was scheduled for trial this year, but the most recent case management hearing occurred on June 26. Just four days later, on June 30, O’Hare’s body was found outside the Leonardo Hotel complex in central Manchester.
Rachel O’Hare (pictured), 49, fell to her death from a city centre apartment block. She was found dead on June 26
Ms O’Hare, 49, had been suing her antiques dealer fiancé Owen Pacey (pictured), 60, over their £2.7million London home
The five–storey Georgian mansion is located in the trendy area of Spitalfields, London
The interior of the house is packed with beautiful artwork, ornate Italian chandeliers and expensive designer furniture
The five–storey Georgian mansion in west London that was the centre of Ms O’Hare and Mr Pacey’s court battle
👥 A Relationship in Decline
The pair met in 2020 after O’Hare visited Pacey’s boutique fireplace showroom, Renaissance, in Shoreditch. He later described their meeting as “love at first sight.” They became engaged in December 2022, and he moved into the Wilkes Street home soon after.
But by October 2023, cracks were showing. O’Hare remained in Cheshire with her children, while Pacey stayed in London. Disputes over finances, unfulfilled promises, and allegations of coercive control soon followed.
In her claim, O’Hare maintained she ended up paying the lion’s share of the renovations after Pacey failed to meet commitments. She said he gave her paperwork to sign — supposedly legal protections — and sent her texts confirming she was on the title deed. Yet, no such formal ownership was ever recorded.
Police at the scene in Manchester where Ms O’Hare’s body was discovered on the pavement next to an apartment complex, where she was living
The scene around the Leonardo Hotel and Victoria House apartments was cordoned off following the grim discovery
🧍♂️ Pacey’s Side of the Story
In a statement submitted to court in February, Pacey:
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Denied all claims of controlling behaviour or financial misconduct.
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Asserted there was no discussion about splitting business shares or repaying the property cost.
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Claimed he contributed £70,000 to renovations, donated £350,000 worth of furniture and fireplaces, and suggested they had plans to use the home for £1,000-per-day luxury photo shoots.
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Denied locking O’Hare out or refusing access.
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Argued that disagreements were rare and triggered by isolated incidents — particularly involving alcohol.
He said he intended to have the properties valued in order to buy O’Hare out of both the Wilkes Street home and a maisonette she had partial interest in.
Speaking to reporters following her death, Pacey said:
“I worshipped the ground Rachel walked on… I don’t want to be here without her.”
He also claimed she had been struggling with her mental health and had recently received hospital treatment.The secuded terrace of O’Hare’s £3million house in Spitalfields
💔 A Woman Remembered
Rachel O’Hare was not only a mother to three teenagers but a dedicated advocate for women’s rights. She co-founded a charity supporting survivors of domestic violence, providing care packages to women in shelters.
Friends describe her as compassionate, intelligent, and determined — someone whose private anguish was hidden behind a polished exterior.
An inquest into her death is expected to open next week in Manchester.
SOURCE: THE DAILY MAIL