THE family of an English GAA player murdered in County Mayo last year have said they are convinced "someone knows what happened".
Joe Deacy, 21, was found unconscious with severe head injuries at 6am on August 12, 2017 outside a house in Gortnasillagh, near Swinford.
The promising GAA footballer was visiting Mayo from his native Hertfordshire - where he played for St Colmcilles GAC in St Albans.
The Dublin City Coroner adjourned the inquest into Mr Deacy's death this morning at the request An Garda Síochana to allow them to continue to carry out their murder investigation.
Following the adjournment, the deceased's father Adrian released a short statement in which the Deacy family said they “hoped and prayed” the investigation would eventually bring those responsible to justice.
“We truly believe that someone knows what happened, and every day we question how they can live with their conscience and carry on as if nothing happened,” Mr Deacy said.
An avid Mayo GAA supporter, Joe Deacy regularly travelled to the west of Ireland in the summer and had tickets to the All-Ireland semi-final between Mayo and Kerry, which took place the weekend after his death.
In the hours before he was found fatally injured, the 21-year-old went for a night out socialising with friends in Kiltimagh.
Two men were arrested last November in connection with the murder but were later released without charge.
The case featured on RTÉ’s Crimecall programme in January, when the Deacy family made an emotional appeal for information.
St Colmcilles GAC also issued an appeal at the time of the programme for new information, saying: “Joe deserves a break and so does his family for some sort of peace of mind and closure."
