[ad_1]
Emma McManus (40), mother of three and wife of the son of horse racing magnate JP McManus, died suddenly in Barbados.
Ms. McManus died yesterday morning after becoming ill in a private villa on the grounds of the luxurious Sandy Lane resort.
She was married to JP McManus’s son, John McManus, and was the daughter of former Irish tennis star and retired businessman Peter Ledbetter.
Members of the McManus and Ledbetter families had flown to the eastern Caribbean island to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Eve together, in what has been a long-standing family tradition.
Informed sources said that Ms McManus, originally from Blackrock, Co Dublin, woke up in her room in the early hours of yesterday and complained of “feeling bad”.
Sources said Ms McManus was taken to a local medical center where she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
A spokesman for the Royal Barbados Police said they had ruled out foul play and were treating it as a sudden death.
Post mortem
An autopsy will be performed on Ms. McManus’s body to help find the cause of death, which will ultimately be determined by the police investigation.
A police spokesman said it was expected that “after the autopsy, the investigation will be completed.”
He explained that local autopsies can take “up to a week”, however, this would depend “on the pathologist and the forensic doctor.”
Sources described Emma and John as “a very private couple” who have three children under the age of nine and reside in a luxury property in Chelsea, London.
From what is known, Emma did not have serious health problems.
“It’s terrible, from what is known, Emma did not have serious health problems. No one knows exactly what caused his death, there was no warning. Everyone is obviously devastated, it is enormously shocking, ”they said.
“Emma was a vibrant and outgoing person and everyone loved her very much; Despite their obvious wealth, they are two of the most level-headed people you will ever meet.
“We are especially heartbroken for John and the children, what happened is the worst nightmare of any family. John is a very compassionate guy, our hearts go out to him. “
Ms. McManus graduated from Trinity College Dublin, while her husband John, a former student of Glenstal Abbey private school in Co Limerick, has had a successful career in the antiques, sculpture and art trade. The couple married in Portugal in October 2010.
Drawn horses
JP McManus, a billionaire horse owner, businessman, and philanthropist, reportedly brought out his nine horses that were supposed to race today.
Ms. McManus’s father, Peter Ledbetter, represented Ireland in tennis and helped build the late Tony Ryan’s commercial aircraft rental and sales business, Guinness Peat Aviation, in the 1970s.
It is understood that Emma, John and their three children were in Limerick to watch the Shannonside hurling team, of which JP McManus has been a long-time sponsor, win their second All Ireland hurling championship in three years on 13 from December.
They then flew to Barbados with their family.
The Sandy Lane complex was bought in the late 1990s by JP McManus, financier Dermot Desmond, and horse breeder John Magnier.
Informed sources said the two families were seeking advice on how best to proceed with funeral arrangements, in light of public health guidelines on the coronavirus pandemic and international travel.
[ad_2]