Kyle Hayes assumed role of 'policeman' - trial hears

A man allegedly attacked by Limerick All-Ireland winning hurler Kyle Hayes was subjected to a vicious, sustained and unjustified assault after the All-Star acted as a "policeman" when he saw the injured party talking to two women he knew, a trial has heard.

Kyle Hayes, 25, with an address at Ballyashea, Kildimo in Co Limerick has denied two violent disorder charges and one charge of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy, 24.

Craig Cosgrave, 24, from Caherally, Grange, Co Limerick, denies one charge of violent disorder.

All charges arise from events alleged to have happened early on 28 October 2019, in and outside the Icon Nightclub on Upper Denmark Street, Limerick.

The trial has heard that the alleged injured party, Cillian McCarthy, was "set upon" in the nightclub by Mr Hayes and others, after Mr Hayes took exception to Mr McCarthy talking to two women, with whom Mr Hayes was acquainted, and that several punches were thrown.

It also heard Mr McCarthy was attacked outside the nightclub on the street and seen by two gardaí being kicked and punched, while on the ground, by Mr Hayes and another male who is not before the court.

In his closing speech to the jury at the Circuit Criminal Court in Limerick, John O'Sullivan BL, prosecuting, said that Mr Hayes assumed the role of a "policeman" in Smyth’s bar, downstairs from the Icon nightclub, and Mr McCarthy had said Mr Hayes was "marking Cillian’s card" because Cillian was talking to a girl whom Mr Hayes knew.

"One thing that is absolutely clear is that it was Kyle Hayes who was the aggressor," Mr O’Sullivan said.

Earlier in the trial, Mr McCarthy said that Mr Hayes approached him and his friend, Craig Cosgrave, in the bar and warned them to "stay the f… away" from the two