The devastated family of a GAA fan whose death remains a mystery will hold a memorial walk today in their pursuit of “justice and truth”.
Joe Deacy, from St Albans in England, was on holiday here when he was found outside a house in Swinford, Co Mayo, at 6.30am on August 12, 2017.
The 21-year-old died in hospital the following day and gardai launched a murder probe after the post mortem confirmed death from “blunt force trauma to the head”.
Joe’s cousin Lauren Mercer told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “We will walk up the road to the house where he was found. It’s a very sombre and painful walk.
“We still don’t have any answers. Joe had been at the Galway races and over visiting friends and family as he did every year.
“He was staying with friends. They went out for drinks and there were videos of him on social media that morning at 4am singing and having a great laugh.
“But he was found outside the house at 6am the next morning.
“A passing cyclist found him. He went on his own in the ambulance.
“We just need to know what happened between 4am and 6am that morning.”
Gardai believe there are three people who have knowledge of Joe’s death but efforts to crack the case have been met with silence. His inquest was postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions and a separate hearing is to be held in the UK.
On the night he was murdered, Joe had spoken with his cousin on social media at 3.45am.
Detectives believe he was then attacked some time after his call and before he was found after 6am lying outside the property.
Joe’s cousin Michelle Deacy Murray recalled how she sat beside his hospital bed in ICU “praying to God he would open his eyes”.
She said: “Joe had his whole life ahead of him.
“He was a kind and caring young man with a wonderful personality.
“He had a great job and fantastic friends. He also donated seven organs and gave the gift of life to six people.”
GAA fanatic Joe, who played for a team in St Albans, was a regular visitor to Mayo where he had many relatives.
Lauren, 28, added: “Joe was an innocent, beautiful young boy who would never hurt anyone. Nobody deserves to die the way he did.
“It’s torn our world apart. He was like my little brother we were so close.
“All we want to know now is what happened.
“Somebody knows something and we are in hell until we get the answers.”
