Family object to the release of transcript of court recording
Joe Deacy was found unconscious outside the Byrne home in 2017.
A Swinford family has said they do not want transcripts from a recent court case to be released to a man who is seeking to make a documentary about the death of Joe Deacy.
Before a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court, documentary maker Shane Caffrey applied for the transcript of the Digital Audio Recording from a sentencing hearing on July 24, 2025.
The sentencing hearing related a friend of the late Joe Deacy who pleaded guilty to harassing Peter and Anne Byrne.
Brendan Rowland, with an address in Shenley Road, Borehamwood, near London, received an 18-month suspended prison sentence.
Twenty-one-year-old Joe Deacy from St Alban's, Hertfordshire, England was found unconscious outside the Byrne home at Gortnasillagh, Swinford at 6.45am on August 12, 2017 and died the following day in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
Solicitor Matthew Kelly, acting for Mr Caffrey, said his client wished to have the DAR or a transcript of the DAR so he could give an accurate account of the court proceedings.
“He is neutral and he is making a documentary and it is exactly why it is not an injustice to provide a transcript in a limited format to ensure the remarks made at the sentencing hearing are only reported absolutely accurately so people's remarks are not taken out of context. His objective to make a documentary is to make one which is fair to all sides in what is clearly a matter of public interest,” he said.
Judge Eoin Garavan remarked that it was an “unusual” application but he did not have an issue with the request in principle.
Peter and Anne Byrne were in court and Judge Garavan said he would like to hear their views on the matter.
“We were here on July 24 [2025] and made our victim impact statements and 17 days later, Shane Caffrey came to my house with a group of people who were uninvited and there was a march outside my house and trespassing on our driveway. He trespassed," said Mr Byrne. “I have made a complaint to gardaí about what happened at those protests in 2024 and 2025 and I have a Pulse number and the documentary maker Shane Caffrey was mentioned as part of the protest."
Mr Kenny said his client was at the protest outside the Byrne home in his capacity as a documentary maker.
Mr Byrne stated that he believes Brendan Rowland was not the only person involved in the harassment campaign which he maintained is ongoing.
“It continues to occur and our family members in Ireland and abroad have been harassed and intimidated by a group of people who I believe are organised and out of control,” he stated.
Mr Byrne said the investigation into the harassment campaign against his family remains open and he believes no transcripts should be made available until it is concluded.
Judge Garavan said he would consider the submissions of Mr Byrne in his objection and give his decision on March 13.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
