FIVE-TIME All-Ireland winning hurler Kyle Hayes could face jail today (Friday, January 19) when he is sentenced for engaging in violence on the dancefloor of a nightclub six years ago.
It is predicted however that Mr Hayes (25), who has no previous convictions, is unlikely to serve a custodial sentence.
Mr Hayes – who is one of the stars of Limerick’s greatest ever hurling team, which has dominated the senior hurling league and championship for the past five years – was convicted by a jury last December of violent disorder inside the Icon nightclub in Limerick City, a charge he denied.
CCTV footage from the club’s dancefloor showed Mr Hayes and others allegedly throwing punches at Limerick carpenter Cillian McCarthy on the thronged dance area.
The violent disorder offence, which is contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, carries a sentence of a fine and/or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years.
Mr Hayes was found not guilty by the jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court of a charge of assault causing harm to Mr McCarthy (24) outside the club on the same night in question.
Two Gardaí gave evidence that they each witnessed Mr Hayes kicking and stamping on a man’s head and body outside the Icon nightclub on the night in question, however the court heard there was no CCTV footage of the alleged attack outside the Icon on October 28, 2019.
A two-week trial last December heard allegations that Mr Hayes and others attacked Mr McCarthy on the club’s dancefloor, repeatedly punching him in the head.
Mr Hayes had allegedly warned Mr McCarthy and another man to “stay the f*ck away” from two women they were chatting to at a bar attached to the nightclub.
Mr McCarthy told the trial that when he told Mr Hayes that he knew the two women, Mr Hayes became aggressive and said: “Do you know who the f*ck I am?”
Mr Hayes admitted in Garda interviews following his arrest that he had fled from Gardai outside the club after they told him not to leave the area.
He told Gardaí that he had run away not because he was involved but because he wanted to get away from the violent scenes.
Mr Hayes said he eventually stopped running from a detective who pursued him on foot because he was concerned running away might have “made me look guilty”.
Following his conviction for violent disorder on December 1 last, Mr Hayes was remanded on bail on his own bond of €100.
He agreed to give up his passport to Gardaí and not apply for new travel documents, abide by a nightly curfew, and not commit any further crimes while on bail.
The trial judge, Dermot Sheehan, said Mr Hayes’ behaviour on the club’s packed dancefloor had been “extremely dangerous”.
The judge said he was seriously considering a “custodial sentence”.
A number of testimonials on behalf of Mr Hayes, who was named Young Hurler of the Year in 2018, were to be canvassed for consideration by the court.
