Family issue fresh appeal for information into Joe's death

THE family of an English GAA player who was murdered while on a visit to Co. Mayo last August say they are convinced that 'someone knows what happened' and have appealed for them to contact investigating gardaí.

The Dublin City Coroner will be asked today to adjourn the inquest into the death of 21-year-old Joe Deacy at the request of An Garda Síochána to permit officers to continue their extensive investigations.

Joe's family issued a statement, through their solicitors, to the press ahead of the hearing in which they said they fully support An Garda Siochána's request to the Dublin City Coroner to adjourn the inquest to permit them to continue their investigation into Joe’s tragic death.

The statement said: “We hope and pray that their ongoing investigations will eventually result in the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the killing of our beloved son Joe.

“We truly believe that someone knows what happened and every day we question how they can live with their conscience and carry on as if nothing happened.”

Joe Deacy, a passionate and promising GAA footballer, was found seriously injured outside a house at Gortnasillagh, Swinford, in the early hours of Sunday, August 13, 2017.

He was rushed by ambulance to Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, before being removed to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, where he died later that day.

Two men arrested for questioning in November under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act were later released without charge.

Mr. Deacy had been visiting relatives in Co. Mayo when he sustained fatal injuries.

He had been socialising in Kiltimagh on the night before his tragic and untimely death.

Last January, the Deacy family issued an appeal on RTÉ Crimecall for fresh information on their loved one’s death.

Hertfordshire GAA Club – St. Colmcille’s – who the tragic youngster played for, also issued an appeal at the time of the programme for new information, stating: “Joe deserves a break and so does his family for some sort of peace of mind and closure.”