Family of Joe Deacy claim 'out of control’ comments are 'laughable'

The family of Joe Deacy have rejected claims made in a Mayo courtroom that their group is 'out of control' and that they are telling lies.

In a post on the 'Justice for Joe Deacy' Facebook page, the Deacy family described as 'laughable' comments made by Peter Byrne at Monday's sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court that harassment against his family is 'by an organised and out of control group'.

Twenty-one-year-old Joe Deacy from St Alban's, Hertfordshire, UK was found unconscious outside the home of Peter Byrne at Gortnasillagh, Swinford at 6.45am on August 12, 2017 and died the following day in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.

Each August on the anniversary of Mr Deacy's death, friends and family of Joe Deacy take part in the Joe Deacy Memorial Walk to lay flowers at the location where he was found unconscious.

On Monday, Mr Byrne objected to an application from documentary maker Shane Caffrey to have the transcript of the Digital Audio Recording from a sentence hearing in Castlebar Circuit Court on July 24, 2025 from being released.

Mr Caffrey is making a documentary on the death of Joe Deacy and was seeking the transcripts of a case where a Ballycroy native was convicted of harassing Peter Byrne and his wife.

Response

During the application hearing, Mr Byrne claimed that harassment against his family continues and accused some people who spoke at the protest outside his home of telling total lies about the case.

In the Facebook post, Joe's uncle Paul Deacy, who spoke at the gathering, said the comments by Mr Byrne at the court hearing cannot be ignored.

“Last August I read an open letter to the Byrne family when we gathered peacefully at their house to remember our Joe, who was found murdered at their property eight years ago.

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“The Byrne family were asked many questions regarding their actions at the time of the murder and on numerous occasions over the last eight years. Unsurprisingly, no answers were forthcoming.

“This unassuming request to the courts to use transcripts for an unbiased and factual podcast has again led to the Byrne's painting a misguided portrayal that they are the sole victims, using misleading descriptive wordings and challenges to enhance this belief,” he said.

Mr Deacy also rejected claims made by Mr Byrne that he and his family are trapped inside their house every August and stood over the words he said outside the home last year.

“The deluded description of the peaceful and respectful walk as a 'protest' is insulting to all the participants that were there. Anyone that wants to revisit my speech will see how wrong Peter Byrne is in his description.

“This annual peaceful walk has never trapped you in your house. It is solely your wish to remain hidden in your house filming and listening to what is said using your hidden cameras.

“The simple fact remains you would be more than welcome to partake in the group prayers and reflection on Joe’s life if you wanted to.

“Peter, when you accuse people of telling total lies about the case, you again are wrong. I believe these comments reference my speech, to which I stand by.”

Mr Deacy also described as 'perplexing' Mr Byrne's objection to the release of the court transcripts and believes a documentary on the death of his nephew will help 'forward new lines of enquiry to help solve this case'.

“I can’t understand why the Byrne family, who in their words, 'grieve for Joe and did everything that they could do to help him', are now objecting in the courts with these self-centred arguments.

“I believe the documentary will be an extremely powerful tool, jogging people’s memory, hopefully bringing forward new lines of inquiry to help solve this case.

“Enduring nine years of pain in getting to the truth is long enough for any family to live with.”