A woman who is believed to live in either the Dundalk or Drogheda area could be the heir to a massive six figure fortune and not even know it.
Heir hunters Finders International have launched a hunt for Dublin-born woman Marie Hilton following the death of her half-brother.
They took to the airwaves yesterday to appeal to the public for help in tracking her down.
Padraic Greenan of Finders International told Today FM’s Anton Savage Show they are trying to find a woman by the name of Marie Hilton who was born on May 17, 1943 in North Dublin but could be now living in Co Louth.
He said they believe Ms Hilton is the last remaining heir to the estate of her half-brother Michael P O’Hanlon who passed away in the UK in 2008.
The estate appeared on the Bona Vacantia list of unclaimed estates in the UK and its value is currently unknown.
But the property has to be valued at at least €700,000 to appear on the list.
Padraic said: “A man by the name of Michael P O’Hanlon passed away in Southampton in 2008.
“We were working away on the case but came to a dead end, until recently.”
Padraic said that they discovered that Mr O’Hanlon had a half-sister who is the last remaining relative and so is due to inherit his estate.
But he said she might not even know she is entitled to the small fortune.
Now Padraic and his team are searching for Marie and they reckon if she is still alive, she is most likely in the Drogheda or Dundalk area.
He told listeners Marie is one of three children born to Phyllis Veronica Hilton from Dublin’s Mountjoy Square.
Phyllis, who was born in 1924 and died in 1979, gave her three children up for adoption or perhaps fostering.
Marie’s siblings Phyllis Hilton and Michael P O’Hanlon, who owned the estate in question, have both since passed away.
Padraic said none of the three siblings – who all had different fathers – were aware of each other’s existence.
Phyllis Veronica Hilton later married an Indian gentleman called Nagalingham Sundaran – he knew of the three children but never met them.
And baptism certificates for Marie could not be found although Finders International did track her a birth certificate.
Padraic believes Marie’s younger sister, Phyllis Junior married a man called Patrick O’Driscoll from Ballyfermot.
Marie’s potential brother in law Patrick can remember travelling to Drogheda about 10-15 years ago with his wife to meet her sister.
Patrick said they had spent the day together but didn’t meet after that.
The Heir Hunters believe Marie Hilton could be still living in Drogheda – her name may now be different as she was adopted or fostered and it is possible she has since married, although Finders International’s research could not produce a marriage certificate.
Padraic said: “We have reason to believe that Marie is living in either the Drogheda or Dundalk area. We don’t know if she is still alive, we don’t know if she goes under the name Marie Hilton or an adoptive surname, she might have married, but we can’t find a marriage certificate.”
And he said that although she may never have married, and it’s possible she has since passed away, Marie could have children who would be entitled to inherit the state.
If you know of a Marie Hilton, or who was born Marie Hilton, daughter of a Phyllis Veronica Hilton, half-sibling to Phyllis Hilton and Michael P O’Hanlon, quite possibly living in the Drogheda area, contact Finders International on 01 6917252 or via www.findersinternational.ie
