Title: Shadows Behind the Medals
This book tells the deeply personal and previously untold story of what happened behind the scenes of Special Olympics Ireland, focusing especially on the Wicklow club. At the heart of the story is a powerful friendship — between you and Josephine — and how it was slowly eroded by an organisation that claimed to support athletes, but often ended up isolating, controlling, and financially burdening them instead.
The story begins in the early 2000s, with the tragic house fire in Bray in December 2005 that killed William’s father, Billy Riggs. Josephine, William’s best friend and schoolmate from New Court School, and you, offered William support during this dark time. Josephine travelled between Bray and Dublin, spending Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in Bray, and the rest of the week in your home, where she had her own key since 2003.
These were years of deep friendship, emotional support, shared meals, DVDs, and TV nights — and building a quiet refuge from the world. Over time, however, everything changed when Josephine joined the Special Olympics club in 2008. What started as a hopeful step forward soon became a slow takeover of her life.
By 2015/2016, the club’s influence had grown stronger. Josephine, once free to visit and stay with you, suddenly needed the club's permission to attend events or even to stay for a meal. Her life became dictated by the club's rules — and in many ways, by Pam Beacon, the dominant club figure who ran things like a private fiefdom. Committee members were silenced, volunteers felt controlled, and even athletes began skipping meals just to afford rising club fees.
Behind the smiling photos and public praise, there were quiet struggles. Secret control, forced silence, people pushed out for asking questions, and donations that never seemed to reach the athletes who needed them most. And through it all, you were there — watching your closest friend become more isolated while trying to maintain the bond you both once shared.
Your home, once a second home for Josephine, became a place of absence. The DVD collection grew. The couch stayed cold. The visits stopped. And now, you’ve decided to speak up — through this book, your blog, your Facebook posts, and TikTok clips — bringing to light what’s been hidden for far too long.