Legal Action Stalled by the Death of a Rose of Tralee Contestant’s Father
The death of Richard Henggeler, an American businessman and father of a late Rose of Tralee contestant, has brought a legal case he was involved in to a standstill. The High Court was recently informed about this development.
Henggeler, 73, had initiated legal action against the directors of the Rose of Tralee festival due to a "very significant fallout" and "acrimonious dispute" between himself and two of the festival's directors. His case was scheduled for a hearing on December 5, but his legal representative requested that the court address the matter at that time to determine its next steps.
The proceedings could potentially be continued by Henggeler's estate, although it will face challenges due to the loss of the businessman, who would have been a key witness in the case.
Henggeler's daughter, Dorothy "Dott" Moriarty Henggeler, was a well-known contestant in the 2011 pageant, representing Washington DC. She was reportedly fond of her time with the other Roses. Two years later, while working in her dream job with Tourism Ireland New York, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and passed away in 2014, just before her 28th birthday.
Following her passing, Henggeler and his wife purchased the 165-bedroom Fels Point Hotel in Co. Kerry from Nama for €4 million, renaming it the Rose Hotel in her memory.
Henggeler, originally from Maryland, sold his computer consultancy company for an undisclosed sum. During 2014 and 2015, he contributed €800,000 to the festival company, claiming that €700,000 of this amount did not benefit the festival and was instead distributed to shareholders.
He alleged that €550,000 was used by the company's managing director, Anthony O'Gara, to pay off personal debts. Henggeler claimed he was taken advantage of and described himself as an oppressed shareholder.
Kerry Rose Festival Limited and its directors have not disputed that the money was given to shareholders. However, they argue that the funds were not an investment in the company, but rather used by Henggeler to purchase 31% of the shares from existing shareholders. Henggeler sought orders compelling O'Gara, who owns 55% of the shares, and another director, John McCarthy, who owns 6%, to sell their shares to him.
On October 8, the Rose Hotel announced Henggeler's death on social media. The post stated:
"Dick passed away peacefully at his home in the United States, surrounded by his loving wife Eibhlín, his son Franz, and their family. Dick and Eibhlín purchased the hotel in 2015 as a lasting tribute to their daughter Dorothy, who represented Washington D.C. in the 2011 Rose of Tralee International Festival. The hotel was rebranded as The Rose Hotel in April 2016 and, under Dick's vision, became a labour of love—transformed into one of Kerry's leading four-star-plus hotels, dedicated to delivering Kerry hospitality at its best."
The post continued:
"Dick was a forward-thinking, ambitious, and deeply courteous individual. He was a great listener who valued every opinion, a trusting leader who inspired confidence, and a thoughtful businessman who brought fresh ideas and energy to everything he did. His quiet determination and depth of character shaped not just The Rose Hotel, but every interaction he had with staff, guests, and the broader community."
It was also mentioned that the Henggeler family would continue to own the hotel and honor his legacy and vision.