Limerick All Ireland winning hurler Kyle Hayes (25) has been given suspended sentences after being found guilty of two counts of violent disorder in relation to an assault which took place in 2019.
Judge Dermot Sheehan sentenced Hayes to two years in relation to an incident of violent disorder which took place outside the club as well as an 18-month-sentence in relation to violent disorder which occurred in relation to the same incident inside the club.
Suspending the custodial sentences for two years Judge Sheehan ordered Hayes to pay the victim Cillian McCarty 10,000 in compensation and to keep the peace.
Last December Hayes was found guilty by a jury on two counts of violent disorder and not guilty on one count of assault causing harm to McCarthy by Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Hayes had pleaded innocent in respect of all the charges levelled against him arising from an incident which took place outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick on the 28th of October 2019.
On the night Hayes had appointed himself as a “policeman” for the purposes of not allowing other males to flirt with his friends’ girlfriends while the group was out socialising.
When McCarthy (24) made an approach to one of the women Hayes approached him asking if McCarthy knew who he was.
Inside the nightclub McCarthy said that he was chatting to two women he was acquainted with when he was approached by an angry Hayes who he said he initially thought was joking.
He said that he was punched in the face inside the club and that his hands were held behind his back to prevent him from being able to defend himself.
The confrontation escalated into Hayes and his friends attacking McCarthy outside the club by punching and kicking him while he lay on the ground.
The assault was interrupted when Gardaí arrived on the scene.
McCarthy said that he had to undergo surgery after sustaining a fractured eye socket in the assault which he says was unprovoked.
Hayes was convicted of the two counts of violent disorder by a jury after a two week trial last December.
The victim, who is a carpenter, said that the incident has left him “terrified” and that he now feels fearful when going out.
The court heard that McCarthy had received “nasty” messages after the assault from individuals who blamed him for what happened.
Character witnesses for Hayes said that since the incident – which he initially denied to Gardaí he had taken part in – he has matured and had “paid a heavy price” because of media attention in the wake of the incident.