National: All-Ireland winning hurler Kyle Hayes spared jail for violent disorder offences

A judge imposed fully suspended jail sentences on five-time All-Ireland winning Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes for two counts of violent disorder this Wednesday at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Dermot Sheehan said an immediate custodial sentence is not "appropriate" and society will not benefit from Mr Hayes going to prison.

Judge Sheehan imposed an 18 month prison sentence for the violent disorder in the Icon and a concurrent two year jail sentence for the violent disorder on Upper Denmark Street.

"They are both suspended in full," said Judge Sheehan.

The judge also made a compensation order that Mr Hayes pay Mr McCarthy a sum of €10,000 for "his personal injury and loss".

Mr Hayes was released on his own bond of €250 and must keep the peace and be of good behaviour for two years.

Mr Hayes, aged 25, of Ballyoshea, Kildimo was found guilty at a trial last December of engaging in violent disorder in the Icon nightclub in Limerick city centre and of engaging in violent disorder at Upper Denmark Street. They both occurred on October 28, 2019.

The jury found Mr Hayes not guilty of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy, aged 24, at Upper Denmark Street, Limerick city on the same date. All of the verdicts were unanimous.

Mr Hayes was represented by Brian McInerney SC, appearing with Joseph McMahon BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan. Mr McInerney had urged the jury to give Mr Hayes back his life and to take the “chalice of torture” from his lips and return him to the bosom of his family.

The case was prosecuted by John O'Sullivan BL, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, with the assistance of Detective Garda Barry Moylan.