New lines of inquiry into murder of Joe Deacy in Mayo being ‘actively pursued’ - report

Several new additional lines of inquiry have emerged in recent months as part of the garda investigation into the violent death of a young man while he was on holiday in the west of Ireland nine years ago, according to a report in the Irish Independent.

Joe Deacy (21) from St Albans in Hertfordshire, England, died at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on August 13, 2017, from injuries he had sustained the previous day at a location in the Swinford area.

The victim had initially been treated at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar where he was brought after being discovered lying on the ground outside a house at 6.30 a.m. on August 12, 2017, by a passing cyclist.

Gardaí launched a murder investigation after post-mortem results showed he had suffered blunt force trauma to the head.

Inspector Naomi de Rís told a sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court that the senior investigating officer in the case had informed her that recent extra lines of inquiry had emerged.

Inspector de Rís told coroner, Cróna Gallagher that such lines were being “actively pursued”.

She made her statement while applying for a further adjournment of the inquest for six months under Section 25 (1) of the Coroners Act on the basis that criminal proceedings are being considered.