Woman who fell to her death from tower block was fighting ex-lover for mansion
A woman who fell from a tower block was engaged in a bitter legal row over the £2.7million home she had shared with her antiques dealer fiancé at the time of her death.
Rachel O'Hare, 49, had started legal action against Owen Pacey, 60, as she claimed the rights to their five-storey Georgian mansion in Spitalfields.
Rachel alleged that her ex-lover - who has made antique fireplaces for Mick Jagger and Naomi Campbell - locked her out of the home and was prevented from collecting her belongings. She claimed he also refused to pay bills and threatened to destroy the property's interior - including its artwork and designer furniture.
The couple were due to appear at the High Court in the coming months, but four days after the most recent hearing in Leeds she fell to her death from a Manchester apartment window.
An inquest into her death is due to start next week. Investigators are not treating her death as suspicious.
Rachel claims she was persuaded to buy the property in their joint names back in June 2021, after they had been together for less than a year following a whirlwind romance. She took out a loan and used the proceeds of a previous divorce settlement to secure it.
In legal papers, the couple signed an agreement that said the house would go to the surviving partner on the event of one of them passing, reports the MailOnline.
This agreement means the £2.7million 18th Century property has been passed on to Owen following Rachel's death.
Rachel had previously said Owen promised to pay his share of the property within two years after selling a £1.2million maisonette he owned.
"The first defendant (Mr Pacey) said he had no money to contribute when the property was purchased but would be able to pay the claimant for his share in due course," legal documents said.
She also said he had agreed to put half of his £5million fireplace business into her name until the maisonette was sold.
Rachel, originally from the Wirral, was pronounced dead at the scene in Manchester city centre on June 30. Emergency services were called to Great Ancoats Street at around 7am that day following reports of woman's body being found.
The area around the Leonardo Hotel and Victoria House apartments was cordoned off as an investigation was subsequently launched. Police said her death was not being treated as suspicious, indicating that no third-party was involved in the tragedy.
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operates a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email Jo@samaritans.org if you'd prefer to write down how you feel. You are not alone.
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