Updated 11.20pm
GARDAÍ AND CRIMESTOPPERS have launched an appeal for information in relation to the death of a man in Swinford, Co Mayo last August.
Joe Deacy, 21, was from St Albans in England. He was discovered outside a house at Gortnasillagh, Swinford with head injuries on 12 August 2017.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene after a passer-by raised the alarm at around 6.45am.
Deacy was taken by ambulance to Mayo University Hospital and later removed to Beaumont Hospital. He was pronounced dead the following day. Gardaí have been treating the death as homicide.
In an appeal on RTÉ’s Crimecall tonight, Joe’s father Adrian described his son as a very popular young man.
He had friends all over the place. If you had a Venn diagram with Joe in the middle of it, you’d have seven or eight different circles around it, and that’s purely because of his personality.
During the programme Alison, Joe’s mother, recalled his childhood, saying: “He had his halo of white blonde hair … just a gorgeous kid and was happy all the time, just running around … always playing football.”
His cousin Lauren Murray said Joe had “had great pride in his Irish connections”, saying: “Mayo GAA was a big part of it. At least five or six times a year he’d be over for the Mayo games.”
Recalling the moment the family heard about his death, Charlotte, Joe’s sister, said, “I just remember seeing my Dad … and he just crumbled.”
Adrian said he doesn’t know how people with information about his son’s death “can live with themselves”, adding: “Someone knows something.”
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information or anyone who was in the vicinity of Gortnasillagh or the N5 between Swinford and Bohola on 12 August last between 2.30am and 7am to come forward.
Gardaí thanked the local community for their assistance to date, but said they believe some people in the area who have information about the incident have not yet come forward.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact gardaí or Crimestoppers on 1800 250 025.
With reporting by Hayley Halpin
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