Joe MacAnthony obituary: Investigative journalist who broke the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes story

Born: February 11th, 1936

Died: April 4th, 2025

Joe MacAnthony, who has died aged 89, was an investigative journalist who uncovered the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes scandal and worked on award-winning documentaries for Canada’s CBC television network. He became a self-described professional exile from Ireland in the mid-1970s after the political fallout from his investigations affected his work prospects.

He was one of nine children born to Joseph Marcantonio, who was of Italian descent, and Christina Murphy, near South Circular Road in Dublin. Over time, the Italian surname became the more Irish-sounding MacAnthony. His father had been an army officer, and after school in Synge Street, Joe too joined the army. However, that career was cut short when a humorous limerick he had written about the sartorial style of a senior colonel was discovered. He was asked to resign or face a court martial and chose the former option.