Crimecall returns to RTÉ One tonight and focuses on a Mayo tragedy

SHARON Ní Bheoláin takes the helm as Crimecall returns to RTÉ One, tonight at 9.35 pm. On tonight’s programme the family of Joe Deacy speak publically for the first time about his killing last August and gardaí launch a new campaign to identify a body found in Barna, Co. Galway, in September 2014.

Twenty-one-year-old Joe Deacy from St Albans in England was on a two week holiday in Ireland visiting relatives and friends.

On August 11, 2017, Joe was out socialising with friends in Kiltimagh and returned to the house he was staying at in nearby Gortnasillagh.

At 6.45 a.m. the following morning, Joe was found lying unconscious with head injuries in the driveway of the house. He died in hospital the following day.

Joe’s father Adrian describes his son as an incredibly 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.”

Alison, Joe’s mother, affectionately remembers his childhood. “He had his halo of white blonde hair...just a gorgeous kid and was happy all the time, just running around...always playing football.”

Lauren Murray, Joe’s cousin, spoke of his love for Ireland, “He had great pride in his Irish connections… Mayo GAA was a big part of it. At least five or six times a year he’d be over for the Mayo games.”

Joe was transferred from Mayo University Hospital to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin where he died from his injuries. Five months later his family recall the painful moment they found out.

Charlotte, Joe’s sister, said: “I just remember seeing my Dad...and he just crumbled.”

Alison arrived at the hospital to hear the devastating news, “When I arrived here, Adrian’s girlfriend met me and said ‘there’s nothing they can do’”

Adrian makes a heartfelt appeal for information. “Someone knows something...How they can live with themselves knowing what they know and still carry on living like they do...”

Gardaí are appealing directly to those who may know what happened to Joe.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimecall on 1800 40 50 60 or Claremorris Garda Station on (094) 937 2080. Joe Deacy family appeal -https://youtu.be/BO52Dsz19ow

Also tonight Gardaí launch a new campaign to identify a body found in Barna, Co. Galway, in September 2014.

On September 27, 2014, the remains of a man were found in Rusheen Woods, Barna on the outskirts of Galway city. Due to decomposition and the lack of any personal ID, Gardaí were unable to identify him.

With the goal of reuniting this man’s body with his relatives, AGS began an investigation that was to go global, involving multiple state agencies, international police forces and forensic experts.

There were however, some clues. The man’s clothes were found to be of American or Canadian origin, a sterling note pointed towards the UK and a single key led to an extensive inquiry in lodgings across Ireland. His DNA was profiled and tested against databases in both Europol and Interpol but no match was found.

The investigating team then enlisted the help of a forensic anthropologist at the University of Dundee who took information from the scene together with x-rays from the post mortem to create a 3D image of the man’s face.

Now, Inspector Paudie O’Shea from the Mill Street Garda Station in Galway, is appealing for the public’s help to circulate the picture.