Suspended sentence for Limerick hurler over violent disorder

Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence after being convicted last December of two counts of violent disorder.

The 25-year-old has also been told to pay €10,000 in compensation to a man who suffered serious facial injuries during incidents inside and outside a Limerick nightclub in 2019.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said at Limerick Circuit Court this morning that the violence engaged in by Hayes in the early hours of 28 October 2019, was "dangerous and significant" and said that none of the incidents, which were the subject of a trial last year, would have happened without Hayes.

He imposed a two-year prison sentence for an incident of violent disorder outside the Icon Nightclub on Upper Denmark Street in Limerick, and an 18-month sentence for violent disorder inside the nightclub.

He suspended both for two years, ordering Hayes to keep the peace for that time.

Hayes, with an address at Ballyashea, Kildimo, Co Limerick, had pleaded not guilty to one count of assault causing harm to 24-year-old Cillian McCarthy outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick on 28 October 2019, as well as to two counts of violent disorder on the same date, inside and outside the nightclub.

He was found guilty last December by a jury of the two counts of violent disorder, but not guilty of the assault.

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

It also heard that Mr McCarthy was attacked outside the nightclub on the street and seen by two gardaí being kicked and punched, while on the ground.

During the trial last year, Mr McCarthy said Hayes approached him and his friend,