De O’Hara-saga: Claus’ geheime zoon in de VS

Speel de nieuwe klokkenluideronline Quizzed-quiz over royalty-schandalen en zing het Wilhelmus!

Medio mei werd een nieuwe bron getraceerd voor het verhaal (zie de twee eerdere stukken hierover op deze site) dat Prins Claus in 1956 toen hij stage liep bij een advocatenkantoor een zoon heeft verwekt in de VS en dat deze Teary O’Hara vlak voor Claus’ dood door de ‘Dutch Royal family’ werd geadopteerd’. Postillion d’amour bij deze delicate missie was hof-vertrouweling baron Sirtema van Grovestins. De oorspronkelijke bron is een Nederlandse man [X] die het verhaal in Amsterdam persoonlijk van O’Hara hoorde –hij had twee ontmoetingen met hem in een horeca gelegenheid in Amsterdam- en ook bewijs zag in de vorm van een bijzondere ring die de adoptie ‘bezegelde’. De nieuwe bron is een Amerikaan (Jann) die thans in Thailand woont.  Jann ontmoette O’Hara in het vliegtuig van San Francisco via Chicago naar Amsterdam. In die tijd had Teary O’Hara een B&B in Amsterdam. Hij schrijft per email:

As for Terry O’Hara, yes he told me the same story. I did see a ring he said was given to him by the baron. But I have not talked to Terry in about 2 years now. I have called him many times but with no response. I don’t know if the story is true or not. I don’t know that much about the royal family. However, Terry did tell me the Royal family had sent him to Private tutor in America to learn how to act when around the royal family and at special function’s. As you know Terry is gay. And he said the royal family did not want him to act gay at any of the function’s he would attend. Other then that I can’t say more. I don’t know. Please tell X I miss talking with him. And R. also if you see her. If you would like you can call me at: xxxxxxxxxx  in Thailand..Or write me at this e-mail address. Happy to help in anyway I can! Jann. 

Dat deze Jann (‘achternaam is bij de redactie bekend’) echt bestaat, blijkt uit dit telefoongesprek dat onderzoeker Wim Dankbaar op 13 mei met hem voerde over de kwestie-Claus. Hierin wordt het hele verhaal nogmaals bevestigd inclusief de delicate rol van baron Sirtema van Grovestins en de bijzondere ring. Deze site beschikt over een audio van het gesprek maar ter bronbescherming houden we die (nog) even achter. Hier volgt een licht geedit transcript. (Het begin loopt vooruit op een latere ontwikkeling waarin O’Hara elke relatie met Claus opeens gaat ontkennen):
W: Okay, well, I think it’s a pretty exciting story, this…

J: Okay, yeah, I can’t imagine why Teary (foto) is denying that he knows X ……. I can’t imagine ….unless he ’s just running scared

W: I can only imagine unless he has strict instructions from the royal family to never let his relationship to them known. I mean ..

J: Well, that’s possible, because after I saw him … two years ago ….after that meeting I tried to call him many times and he never answered my calls, never called me back, never sent me an email,…..nothing. Which makes me think that somebody … somebody is putting pressure on him.

W: Well, I think it’s ridiculous that he says : ‘Yeah I must go into hiding , or I will probably have to disappear. Because the press is knocking on my door and it’s bothering the guests and endangering my business’. Well, I think that cannot be the truth.

J: Yes. (confirming)

W: Because I called a few press people here and they say: “Well we have never heard of him, nor about the story.” So who is knocking on his door then? Who is lining up in front of the house? That’s what he says.

J: No, no …..I don’t believe that.

W: Yeah, well, in the beginning he was saying: “Well, this is such a ridiculous story! Let me know how I can help to debunk it.” And then all of a sudden, within 24 hours, it was not a ridiculous story, it was something very threatening now and it was endangering his business and he had to quit his job and bla bla bla …. Well,  he didn’t quit his job, so I think that’s just a cover story …. to get rid of me,  or some interest of the press. I know of one guy that called him to inquire what might be true or not of this story. And now all of a sudden he is trying to suggest that everyone is lining up in front of the hotel. Pretty strange !

J: Yeah, pretty strange! I seriously doubt that they are lining up in front of the hotel.

W: No…. But he actually told you that the royal family sent him to a private tutor in order to help him to behave around high class people?

J: Yes ..  Yes!

W: And to not act gay?

J: That’s right, yes. He said that the royal family did not want him to bring a boy friend or to act gay in any way at any function that he was to attend.

W: Okay, and did he make it clear that he meant the Dutch royal family?

J: That’s the only royal family he ever talked about, that was the Dutch royal family.

W: Okay!

J: And he said that he was adopted by the baron …. so that he would be part of the royal family but not directly linked to the king.

W: Oh, the queen, you mean! Because we have a queen now!

J: Or the queen, yes.

W: The king is coming !

J: Yes I know, but I was talking about Claus.

W: Oh yeah, the prince you mean. He was called a prince.

J: Yes, the prince, sorry! I am from America, I am not used to talk in royal terms (laughing)

W: Monarchies, no.

J: Yes.

W: So the baron was acting as an intermediate to arrange this?

J: Yes… yes.

W: Okay, and did he also tell you the name of this baron?

J: Aaah… (thinking)….

W: Or he might have , but…. ?

J: It seems like he did,  but I don’t remember what the name was. You know, it’s been a while ….

W: Okay, but the baron was sick, right? Was the baron sick?

J: Uhh, I didn’t hear anything  about him being sick , no

W: Oh okay, because that’s what X told me , he seems to remember that he told you that that baron was very sick … or his wife?

J: Well, X may have told me that but I don’t recall that hearing it from Teary.

W: Okay,  okay, well yeah, there might have been some confusion

(Motor noise in the background)

W: Oh,  what’s that?

J: Oh, that’s just my lady coming with her motorbike.

W: Oh , okay, (laughing)

W: Well, what else did I want to ask? Oh yeah, the baron. So X thinks it was baron Sirtema van Grovestins. Does that ring a bell to you?

J: No , it really doesn’t ring a bell with me…….It’s possible, but it doesn’t really ring a bell with me, no.

W: Okay, and what did he tell you about that ring then?

J: Well, he showed me a ring and he said it was given to him by the baron …… after he was adopted, and he showed it to me … and I don’t know anything about royalty …. but I do know that it was a big, large ring with a large stone in it … and it did not look like a, you know, like a fake stone, it looked like a real gemstone.

W: Yeah, so a real expensive old ring?

J: Yes … yes!

W: Okay, …. interesting. Okay! , well I’ll be in touch later with you then!

J: Okay, well, anything I can do to help, let me know.

W: Okay, well, enjoy your day,…. or evening there.

J: Okay, bye bye!

Het verhaal wordt nog weer verder ondersteund en uitgebreid via de infomatie in onderstaande chat:

[10:50:28] Wim Dankbaar zegt: Hi Jann, Has Teary ever mentioned Claus specifically? Or did he always talk about “the royal family”? In other words, how did you understand that he was the biological son of Claus?
[10:57:16] Jann zegt: He told me that his grandmother told him he was of royal blood. that Claus was in America and had an affair with a woman there and he came from that. But I am beginning to think this is all BS. I think her told this story to try and be something he is not and the story has back fired on him. Now he don’t know what to do!!!
[11:08:13] Wim Dankbaar zegt: I think it is very unlikely that he made the story up. He would have deliberately deceived at least two friends. He would have acquired an expensive old ring to make the story plausible and show it to you. He would have invented that the queen does not like gay people or behavior (which is coincidentally the truth). To send him to a private tutor, is exactly what Beatrix would probably do. That is a negative for the royal family as well as for him. Not likely to wave that into the story if it were not the truth.
[11:18:55] Jann K. zegt: Yes you have a point. all I can say is keep looking into it.

Teary O’Hara zelf heeft inmiddels –dit bleek al uit het telefoongesprek tussen Wim en Jann- een felle en panische terugtrekkende beweging gemaakt. Hij heeft het verhaal over zijn adoptie door Claus nimmer zelf explicitiet bevestigd, maar wel gezegd dat hij Claus ‘een keer heeft ontmoet’ in een email aan een Nederlandse onderzoeksjournalist. Deze bekende journalist mailde op 3 mei aan de webmaster:

Als ik jou was zou ik dat Teary verhaal ff updaten. Iets met een zin als :

“Een bevriende journalist die anoniem wenst te blijven stuurde mij de volgende mail door. Opmerkelijk is dat O’Hara zegt dat hij prins Claus wel heeft ontmoet. En waarom zou een pensionhouder uit blabla onze prins ontmoeten? O’Hara weigerde in te gaan op vervolgvragen. The plot thickens. Hieronder de reactie van O’Hara:

Hi *****,  I’m sorry but you have been misinformed, I am not in any way related to Claus.  I did have the pleasure of meeting him once, but there is no other connection.  Sorry!  Teary.”

Op 6 mei bevestigt O’Hara zijn ontmoeting met Claus aan Wim Dankbaar:

Hi Wim,  Yes I did meet Claus… maybe 20 years. Ago!  It was a charity event, me and maybe 50 to 100 people met him too!  I doubt very seriously that he ever remembered me!  I have never even heard of the Baron until this encounter!   I am dying to know how I got dragged into this! Thank you for your help in this ridiculous matter,  Teary

Maar nog diezelfde dan slaat de stemming bij O’Hara geheel en al om. De pensionhouder neemt nu met kracht afstand van de hele lezing als zou hij een zoon zijn van Claus von Amsberg.

Dear Wim,  I appreciate your letter and your search for historical fact.  But I regret to tell you that not a word of this is true.  On top of it If I knew someone named X., I would remember it!  The entire story is false, and absurd, and I can’t wait to find out, how I, of all people, have been implicated!  Someone is either desperate to make a name for themselves, or they are playing a joke on me. Believe me, I would think it so cool to be the “illegitimate” son of a prince! But I can guarantee if it where true, I would be the first to go public! However claims that I have Aids, is a serious matter and I am looking into charges of slander and liable! But my family and friends are getting a kick out of this! Thank you again, Teary

Wat eerst nog een ‘ridiculous matter’ was, blijkt direct daarop een zaak te zijn geworden van leven en dood en O’Hara dreigt expliciet met juridische stappen:

Wim…  I don’t have any doubt that your friend X. is misleading everyone.  I have something that he doesn’t have…  that would be proof. I have birth certificates, proof of AIDS tests, and a passport (American) that clearly shows I was not in Amsterdam in 1999 or 2002!  If I was being paid off by the royal family I would have much more money in my bank account!!!  I have never in my life seen any Journalist report a story without proof!  In this country this would be slander and liable. This story is so far off the truth it is ridiculous . I would even subject myself to a DNA test just to shut this up once and for all.  This whole mess is forcing me to leave my job.  What was once a funny happening has now re-arranged my life.  I have been left with no other choice but to prosecute the people responsible for this situation.  I have called to U.S. state department and an Attorney to find out what my options are.  There will be no other correspondence, from me, with anyone except my attorney.  Thank you for your time.  Teary

Wim Dankbaar over de gebeurtenissen op 6 mei: “Een verrasende wending. Wat eerst een kick en een grappige situatie was, is nu veranderd in iets heel bedreigends. Een mess. Wie heeft hem zo plots ingefluisterd dat dit een mess is?   En dat binnen 24 uur….Dat is toch vreemd als het inderdaad allemaal flauwekul is! Ik begin nu echt te geloven dat hier wel degelijk wat aan de hand is. Zoals jullie zien gaat hij ook niet meer in op concrete vragen.”

Vervolgens neemt de zaak nog nog meer bizarre wending: Dankbaar wordt diezelfde dag nog gebeld door een voor hem onbekend persoon ‘Alex Jansen’ die hem ervan beschuldigt het leven van Teary O’Hara te ruineren. Hierop schrijft Dankbaar de volgende email aan O’Hara: (later komt vast te staan dat deze ‘Alex Jansen’ dezelfde is die als trol onder de naam ‘Jaap’ deze site probeert te verzieken)

Dear Teary,

I was just called by a rude jerk named Alex Jansen, who called me names and accused me of ruining your life. He said you lost your job because of my email inquiries on the possible truth of this story, of which I am not the source, nor the publisher.He also said he had my number because you forwarded my emails to him. That’s no problem , but he threatened me with asinine threats as well that he would publish them and show the world what a lowlife I am. That’s no problem either, because I have nothing to hide or be ashamed of. But what I do find a problem is unsolicited calls from unknown rude people in the evening who think they can judge and insult me.W ho is this guy Alex Jansen and is there any truth to his story that you are in shambles and lost your job because of this story? That would be horrific, but quite frankly, thus far I have a hard time believing it, that you would lose your job over a rumor that is ridiculous and false anyway. A story so laughable that your friends and family got a kick out of this, until yesterday. Besides, I was in the understanding that your job is that of innkeeper/host  of the James Mulvey Inn, and that you are also the owner. Am I mistaken? If you’re not your own boss, which employer would be so foolish to fire you over such a ridiculous hoax? From the guest reviews I could see that your guests adore you.Please advise if I can be any help in addressing any problems this may have caused you.

Wim

Hierop antwoordde O’Hara:

Wim,  I’m not sure who Alex is, he is one of many, many  people who have e-mailed me about this. I obviously don’t know who to trust because every time I respond to this, I end up being quoted on every paper and website. I certainly did not ask  this Alex to call or respond to you, and have no Idea why he did. As far as my job goes, I have not been fired, nor am I an owner, but the situation of the press calling day and night, and lining up in front of the house (foto van Mulvey Inn) is endangering the business and annoying guests, as well as myself.  I have had to change my personal phone numbers, as well as my address.  I’m going to have to stay with friends, until this blows over. I love being an Innkeeper, And these jobs are hard to come by because most people run their own inns.  So what chances I have for new work are slim.  All this from a so called meeting in a bar…. And ruthless attacks on deceased people who can not defend themselves.  I obviously can no longer visit my favorite city, Amsterdam, anymore either because of what I consider to be very un-Dutch behavior.  I wish someone would learn what hearsay and gossip can do to a guy. I will be stopping this e-mail address and hopefully disappearing . 

Wim Dankbaar later tegen Jann over de tournure van O”Hara: “Instead of going into hiding, and panicking with obvious lies, like the press is lining up in front of the hotel, he could have gotten rid of the story by saying he invented it all to pull a joke on two guys. Why would you invent such a story if you know that sooner or later people will find out it’s a scam and you are a liar?” Verder is opvallend de tegenspraak van O’Hara die enerzijds zegt I have a passport (American) that clearly shows I was not in Amsterdam in 1999 or 2002 maar anderzijds schrijft I obviously can no longer visit my favorite city, Amsterdam, anymore either because of what I consider to be very un-Dutch behavior.