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The families of former Irish tennis star and retired businessman Peter Ledbetter, and horse racing magnate JP McManus, have been shaken by the sudden death of Ledbetter’s daughter, Emma, who was married to the son. by McManus, John McManus.
McManus (40) died Wednesday morning after falling ill in a private villa on the grounds of the luxurious Sandy Lane resort, Barbados, purchased in the late 1990s by JP McManus, financier Dermot Desmond and horse breeder John Magnier.
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 Wednesday and complained of “feeling bad”.
Emma McManus.
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.
An autopsy will be carried out on Ms. McManus’s body to help find the cause of death, which will ultimately determine 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.”
‘Massively shocking’
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.
“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. Everybody is obviously devastated, it’s hugely shocking, ”said a source.
“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 could ever meet. “
The source added: “We are especially heartbroken for John and the children, what happened is the worst nightmare of every 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, Murroe, Co Limerick, has had a successful career in the antiques, sculpture and art trade.
The couple, childhood sweethearts, married in Portugal in October 2010.
JP McManus, a billionaire horse owner, businessman and philanthropist, reportedly brought out his nine horses that were due to race Thursday in light of the duel.
Ms. McManus’s father Peter Ledbetter, a graduate of TCD, UCD and Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, 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-term sponsor, win their second All-Ireland Pitching Championship in three years, on 13 December, before flying. to Barbados with the family.
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.
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