A social worker has visited Maureen O’Hara, the star of “The Quiet Man” after abuse allegations were made concerning her care.
Members of Maureen O’Hara’s family have been threatened with lawsuits after they protested how the 92-year-old screen icon was being treated by her personal assistant, the Sunday World has reported. Her PA, Carolyn Murphy, has power of attorney over O’Hara.
The social worker reported that the frail star was suffering from short-term memory loss but was unharmed.
However, the feud has resulted in three resignations from the Maureen O’Hara foundation.
Among the allegations made were that O’Hara, who has been in poor health, was being forced to make too many public appearances for the foundation, which is seeking to set up a major film school in her name.
Carolyn Murphy meanwhile has threatened to gag family members in a defamation lawsuit she has taken out.
Local elected representative Noel Harrington has stated that he was “disappointed” to hear of the dispute, which has rocked the picturesque town of Glengarriff where O’Hara lives.
Family members are still furious at what they claim are pressures being piled on O’Hara.
O’Hara, who has lived in West Cork for some time, also suffers from Type 2 Diabetes and uses a wheelchair.
Cathy O'Regan, a social worker responsible for protecting the elderly, visited O’Hara and discussed the serious allegations made about her treatment.
O'Regan found her well; "Maureen made it clear that no-one puts pressure on her," she stated categorically in a report last month, which also claimed that Maureen suffers from "short-term memory loss".
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.WestCorkLad | May 03, 2013, 05:16 PM EDT
I commented on a previous edition on this Maureen O'Hara story. It's amazing to see that a year of investigations leads to nothing. This Lawyer was one of Ms O'Hara's closest friends and confidants for over 40 years. I understand he was best man at her marriage to Charlie Blair. So where is the truth? . . . Definitely not in these blogs. I can comment anonymously and sway readers but that is not my job. A court is where this should be determined. So readers please remember that there is two sides to any story. Let's not judge. Maureen is the victim in this whether it comes from external or internal influences.
irishcoffeekid | Jun 04, 2012, 01:56 PM EDT
I'd be keeping a close eye on her savings and finances - people have a habit of doing dodgy deals as older people start losing their grip. Will be too late when she's gone so someone needs to check where her money is going right now....
Maer | May 27, 2012, 11:44 PM EDT
Stockholm syndrome. It is easy to understand how an elderly person, possibly with dementia, would do and say anything to protect their abuser because they rely on the abuser for all their needs. My mother survived breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and dementia. It was the elder abuse at the hands of my siblings that finished her. The abuse was reported to the Westborough (MA) police but because one of the abusers, John Revene, was a snitch for them and the state police, I was unable to get anyone to help my mother. Justice for Peggy Revene
kayceedea | May 25, 2012, 08:59 AM EDT
Oh my goodness this is the saddest thing ever! I LOVE Maureen! She is the best actress ever and she can live with me and I would take care of her! Poor lady aww!!!!!
MaryM232 | May 11, 2012, 08:36 PM EDT
Why does that greedy slag have power of attorney, instead of Ms. O'Hara's family? She never should have gone back to Ireland, they're all parasites there, looking to leech off the poor woman.
Dutchexpat | May 10, 2012, 10:59 PM EDT
Interesting thread. I see the Murphy PR machine is firing on all cylinders as expected. They should try and be more discreet.
CBlair | May 10, 2012, 02:17 PM EDT
I'm in agreement with WestCorkLad that the press is not the proper place to pursue such allegations. Such "revelations" only promote uninformed and biased gossip in forums like this. I certainly don't know to what extent "greed" or real "concern" have played a part is all this, and expect that most folks, beyond the principals involved, don't really know either.
WestCorkLad | May 10, 2012, 01:45 PM EDT
So sad to see greed being aired in public. Shame on Irish Central for providing such a platform. Media is not the place to castigate any person. claims of substance would go to the authorities and they would deal with the accusation and report accordingly. Once this is determined and a claim is substantiated then we no longer have an accusation - but a fact. With this process, the wonderful name of Maureen O'Hara would not have been dragged through media. What an awful way to finish off a glorious career. Shame on those who reported it through the media. Shame on all of you who participate in this blog. It gives me little hope in mankind.
CBlair | May 10, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT
As a member of the family and also a member of the Board of the Foundation, frankly this all comes as a bit of a surprise to me. I spoke to Maureen by phone a couple of weeks ago and she was her usual feisty self, not tired or overwhelmed,...or manipulated. We spoke of some of the initiatives I have been pursuing with a University here in the US to help foster program cooperation and develop the future academic offering of the Legacy Centre. Maureen was engaged in the conversation, and exhibited very little of the short-term memory lapses that she sometimes experiences. I hope I would be the first to be troubled if I felt that Maureen was being pushed into doing things beyond her capabilities or even attending too many exhausting events, but, everyone, please realize the Lady does actually enjoy getting out of the house from time to time to meet her friends and fans. The key at her age is balance between rest and activity, and I have no direct evidence that balance is lacking here. One of Maureen's family models in this respect has been my Grandma Blair, who commanded her own Girl Scout Troop in northern Vermont until age 96, actively raised money for the local school until she "retired" from this at 100, and lived to be 102. Maureen, ever competitive, means to beat this record, and will do so, I think, if she remains active.
quietman91 | May 10, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT
Sunday World has circulation of 250000 per week which is a low circulation paper .
Danny976 | May 10, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT
Inc. suits just fine actually. The parties involved are Americans. Yer man knows the facts.
Seamus1921 | May 10, 2012, 10:49 AM EDT
Dromgarriff! C'mere Boy! Where ya going wid yer "INC"? Yeer no more from West Cork boy than I am frum Boston Massivechewsets!!! We have LTD companies here in the Emerald Isle. Dis is only a bit of oul shka frum across the pond me thinks... yer given good Corkmen a bad name...what doya say lads?
mamaginnty | May 10, 2012, 10:47 AM EDT
I just hope this beautiful woman is not being abused in any way, but would like to know more, like how long Ms Murphy has been with her, is Murphy involved in the foundation, are the so called relations close and in America, or distant relations in Cork. I only know that since she came to Ireland this foundation has been her dream for Ireland, only a year ago she was on television talking about it, her mind was all there and she was very excited. I hope someone in authority really looks into this. Money, greed can cause such damage. As for the Sunday World, it is one of Ireland's TOP selling papers, and noted for truthful statements, they will probably dig deeper into this. I hope so.
hermitTalker | May 10, 2012, 10:38 AM EDT
It amazes me that anyone can rely absolutely on any newspaper's or TV's reporting today without checking all the facts. They sure do not we are all aware and many can testify. So glad the first-hand witnesses can testify that there is another side to the published story and the comments here.
IrelandNorth | May 10, 2012, 05:33 AM EDT
In a material world influenced more by image than by substance, it seems one is taken less seriously as ones hair/skin colour fades. One seems to disappear in the percerption of adolescents/early adults as one grows older. Exaggerated self-importance of youngsters prevails.
Dromgarriff | May 10, 2012, 04:43 AM EDT
Greed indeed. Or as we say here in West Cork " Another Murphy Inc " enterprise.
tarmac | May 10, 2012, 03:53 AM EDT
sounds to me like this is a matter of greed. The O'Hara family want the grand lady's cash and they are afraid she is going to give it to the dog pound instead of feathering their own velvet nests. Personally I feel that if Maureen O'Hara wants to build the Irish people a museum and acting school then let her. By the sounds of it we gain and the family are down a sports car or two. I'm sure Maureen O'Hara doesn't see them stuck for a few dollars. lol!!
Dromgarriff | May 10, 2012, 03:48 AM EDT
You are obviously a friend of Carolyn Murphy and have your own interests as well. Very hypocritical I should say. The Sunday World would have never made those claims if it wasn't true. They print what they can prove. Your dear friend has threatened the family with a defamation lawsuit. Ms. O'Hara will not stand for that. She is a staunch supporter of her family and will always side with them. There is much more to this story than we know I suspect and what is printed so I would advise you to wait until all the facts are presented and the truth comes to light. The family is also interested in fulfilling Ms. O'Hara's wishes and it is their right and only theirs. It's outrageous that they are not being included and that they have resigned and do not support the Foundation. They must have their reasons that we are not aware or privy to. What part of that is not understood ?
Calmwaters | May 10, 2012, 03:27 AM EDT
Further to my previous comment… There is a billboard in the centre of our town with an architects drawing of the O’Hara Legacy Centre which is about to be built. Maureen O’Hara is obviously so thrilled about it and always talks with such excitement when she is in town. She is a very strong person. Filled with the Kate Dannaher fire we all know. Maureen O’Hara is well able to put her own point of view across and stand up for herself. I remember clearly at her Christmas Ball in Glengarriff two years ago Ms O’Hara gave a lovely, strong and energetic speech about her new acting college in the Legacy Centre. She was brimming with enthusiasm about it. And her family were there also last summer in Glengarriff for the movie festival when Maureen was speaking about her dream for the Legacy Centre. So I cannot understand how suddenly Maureen’s family would be against it? The Sunday World have to be misinformed. The town is reported as being 'rocked' over it. This is nonsense as I know people are actually shocked at how Carolyn has been treated. Please God, this will all blow over soon and we can see Maureen O’Hara’s lifelong dream be made a reality. It is something being given to the people of West Cork. It is the public that will ultimately lose out, not Maureen, not her family, nor Carolyn Murphy. We will ALL lose a lasting tourist and business attraction in Ireland if Maureen O'Hara is stopped from building her museum and college by people that only have their own interests at heart.
Calmwaters | May 10, 2012, 03:20 AM EDT
I read this story in the Sunday World here in Cork. The people of West Cork have known Carolyn Murphy for years and years. We often see Carolyn down in Glengarriff with Maureen O’Hara and Carolyn does really treat her like a queen!! The lady is a screen legend and deserves the very best in life after giving us so much over her 92 years. She receives such devoted care from Carolyn who has been her very best friend since Maureen O’Hara moved back to Ireland from the States around 40 years ago. A great deal of care and attention has been given to Maureen by Carolyn in all those years. She has also been very good to this community and helps anyone in need. The Sunday World says Carolyn would not comment. But who would? How would any of us writing here on this blog feel if we wereunder such a personal attack. We would be devastated! I am sure people in the limelight are always a focus of unwelcome attention from begrudgers. So Carolyn is probably just being professional and guarding Maureen O'Hara's good name by not even entering into a degrading debacle in a rag mag.
Dromgarriff | May 10, 2012, 01:17 AM EDT
Sadly we've seen this time and time again. A vulnerable elder celebrity being mismanaged and taken advantage of. I know the family personally and they are extremely concerned and devoted to Ms. O'Hara. Things are not as they seem and the truth will come to light. I would think the family would know better than any stranger who clearly is involved in a power struggle for Ms. O'Hara's legacy . If Carolyn Murphy has nothing to gain or hide why doesn't she simply stand down ? Fame and glory is intoxicating to the lay man or woman !
quietman91 | May 09, 2012, 05:59 PM EDT
Have just compared the above article by your staff writer with the article which appeared in one of Ireland's low circulation Sunday Newspaper. It is almost a direct copy devoid of analysis or comment. I am surprised at such standards at the IrishCentral
quietman91 | May 09, 2012, 05:40 PM EDT
This is very unfortunate and sounds like legacy disagreement issues. I have met Maureen in the past 12 months and she would be the first to raise hell if she did not agree with something. She appreciates very much the obvious support she receives from Carolyn Murphy and the team at the Maureen O'Hara Foundation which she fully supports and appreciates.
Bythebay | May 09, 2012, 04:04 PM EDT
Sounds like family wants to get hold of her money through the power of attorney which she hasn't given them.
righton | May 09, 2012, 03:38 PM EDT
Sad. Often the victims of elder abuse deny it for a variety of reasons. . . I am hoping these allegations are untrue and she is being treated with loving care.
Rebelforce | May 09, 2012, 02:13 PM EDT
It really is shameful that the Academy Awards has never honored Maureen O'Hara with a special Oscar for her body of work and many memorable roles over half a century. At 90, is probably the last living screen legend from Hollywood's Golden Era. And can anyone explain why Maureen O'Hara has not been honored by the Kennedy Center Honors?
Searlit | May 09, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT
Why doesn't someone in the family have power of attorney? Just wondering.
Searlit | May 09, 2012, 01:33 PM EDT
I hope the family is not starting trouble just to try and defame a devoted staffer...obviously that is whom Ms. OHara wants to care for her...on the other hand, we can never be too careful with our elderly, as they are very vulnerable. I wish I could count on a "staff" to take care of me.......
NYCsheridan | May 09, 2012, 11:35 AM EDT
Calling John Wayne....
PatriciaHarty | May 09, 2012, 10:05 AM EDT
I had occasion to meet the team that take care of Maureen on the occasion of her induction into the Irish America Hall of Fame in New Ross on July 29, 2011. Both at dinner the night before, and on the day, I can honestly say that it appeared to me that Maureen was VERY well looked looking after by a devoted staff. I remember thinking at the time that I should be so lucky. She is extremely close to Carolyn who, it seemed clear to me, has a intuitive sense of her needs. If Maureen loses her way in a story, and she regaled us with many stories that night at dinner, and at her induction she did a one-on-one interview with George Hook in front of a live audience, she will look to Carolyn who with just a tiny prompt can put her back on track. I'm alarmed and saddened by these allegations.