Opposition to release of Mayo court transcripts for documentary on Joe Deacy's death
There have been objections to the release of transcripts from a court case that were being sought by a man seeking to make a documentary about the death of Joe Deacy.
Before a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, documentary maker Shane Caffrey sought have the transcript of the Digital Audio Recording from a sentencing hearing on July 24, 2025 released to him.
The sentencing hearing related to a friend of the late Joe Deacy, Brendan Rowland who pleaded guilty to harassing Peter and Anne Byrne.
Brendan Rowland, with an address in Shenley Road, Borehamwood, near London, received an 18-month suspended prison sentence.
Twenty-one-year-old Joe Deacy from St Alban's, Hertfordshire, U.K. was found unconscious outside the Byrne home at Gortnasillagh, Swinford at 6.45 a.m. on August 12, 2017 and died the following day in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
Solicitor Matthew Kelly, acting for Mr. Caffrey, said his client sought to have the Digital Audio Recording (DAR) or a transcript of the DAR so he could give an accurate account of the court proceedings.
“He is neutral and he is making a documentary and it is exactly why it is not an injustice to provide a transcript in a limited format to ensure the remarks made at the sentence hearing are only reported absolutely accurately so people's remarks are not taken out of context.
"His objective to make a documentary is to make one which is fair to all sides in what is clearly a matter of public interest,” he said.
Judge Eoin Garavan remarked that it was an “unusual” application but he did not have an issue with the request in principle.
Peter and Anne Byrne were in court and Judge Garavan said he would like to hear their views on the matter.
“We were here on July 24, 2025, and made our victim impact statements and 17 days later. Shane Caffrey came to my house with a group of people who were uninvited and there was a march outside my house and trespassing on our driveway. He trespassed.
“I have made a complaint to gardaí about what happened at those protests in 2024 and 2025 and I have a pulse number and the documentary maker Shane Caffrey was mentioned as part of the protest,” Peter Byne told the court.
Mr. Kenny said his client was at the protest outside the Byrne home in his capacity as a documentary maker.
Mr. Byrne said Brendan Rowland was not the only person involved in the harassment campaign which he maintained is ongoing.
“It continues to occur and our family members in Ireland and abroad have been harassed and intimidated by a group of people who I believe are organised and out of control,” he stated.
Mr. Byrne said the investigation into the harassment campaign against his family remains open and he believes no transcripts should be made available until it is concluded.
Judge Garavan said he would consider the submissions of Mr. Byrne in his objection and give his decision on the matter on March 13.
* Published under the Courts Reporting Scheme.