Case No. 1262Assault causing harm · Co. Clare · 5 Oct 2023
Jury continues deliberations in Niall Gilligan assault trial in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare
Niall Gilligan, 48, a former All-Ireland winning Clare hurler from Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, is on trial at Ennis Circuit Court accused of assaulting a 12-year-old boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn Hostel in Sixmilebridge on 5 October 2023. The boy sustained a fractured bone in his left hand, wounds, bruising, a head injury, and a brief loss of consciousness. Gilligan, who was arrested on 19 February 2024, pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm with a stick and to producing a wooden stick capable of inflicting serious injury, with his defence being reasonable force. The jury of seven men and five women began deliberations at 12.33pm on 22 July 2025 and, after nearly three hours, was told to break for the day and continue on 23 July.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court15 Jul
7 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Niall Gilligan, 48, a former All-Ireland winning Clare hurler, is on trial accused of assaulting a 12-year-old boy with a stick.
- The boy sustained a fractured bone in his left hand, 2cm wounds to his right forearm and shin, bruising to his right shoulder, a head injury, brief loss of consciousness, and bowel incontinence.
- Gilligan said the boy and others broke into his building, caused damage including a fire and broken windows, and that he grabbed the boy by his coat and brought him out of the building.
- Where
- The alleged assault took place at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Broadford Road, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare.
- When
- The incident occurred on 5 October 2023.
- Charges
- Gilligan denies assault causing harm with a stick of the then 12-year-old boy and denies producing a wooden stick capable of inflicting serious injury.
- Investigation
- Gilligan was formally arrested on suspicion of assault on 19 February 2024 and made a pre-prepared statement at Shannon Garda Station.
- In court
- The trial is being heard at Ennis Circuit Court before Judge Francis Comerford, with a jury of seven men and five women.
- The jury commenced deliberations at 12.33pm on 22 July 2025 and, after nearly three hours, asked the judge about next steps if not unanimous before being told to break for the day and continue on 23 July.
- Other details
- The defence is reasonable force, with counsel saying Gilligan was at the end of his tether due to vandalism to a vacant property he was trying to sell and did not know he was dealing with a child.
- The prosecution described Gilligan's account as a self-serving, fabricated story and said he lost control and punished the boy for the damage caused to his property.
88 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe teenager said he did not see Gilligan hit his friend, only heard the sound of wood smacking off his friend (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager said he saw Gilligan coming at his friend with the stick about to swing while they were both running away (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy hid in a nearby industrial estate after the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy later saw his friend limping with a broken wrist that was swelling (irishtimes.com)
- whatNiall Gilligan is a former All-Ireland winning hurler on trial accused of assaulting a 12-year-old boy with a stick. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy sustained a fractured bone in his left hand in the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMedical reports showed 2cm wounds to the boy's right forearm and shin. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy had bruising to his right shoulder. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMedics believed the boy lost consciousness briefly. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGilligan purchased the Jamaica Inn in 2022 and sold it in late 2023 to a company seeking accommodation for staff. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe father did not initially believe his son when he said he had fallen off his bike. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMedical staff found the boy had soiled himself, leading them to believe he was unconscious at some stage. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStaff at the clinic decided the boy should be transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick emergency department. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe father called Gilligan saying he was in A&E with his son who Gilligan had viciously attacked. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGilligan said his son and others had broken into his building and caused extensive damage including lighting a fire, releasing fire extinguishers, breaking windows, and writing graffiti. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGilligan was accompanied to Shannon Garda station by his solicitor, Daragh Hassett. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGilligan said he grabbed the youth by his coat or jacket and brought him out of the building. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGilligan said they went around the back to see where the other two intruders had gone. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defence is reasonable force. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe first medical report listed head injury, loss of consciousness, bowel incontinence, and various other injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe boy lost consciousness for a while and had incontinence. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe boy let off fire extinguishers and removed keys from the building. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defence said Gilligan was at the end of his tether by vandalism to a vacant property he was trying to sell. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGilligan has young children and no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe prosecution described Gilligan's prepared statement as a self-serving, fabricated story. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defence said most of the boy's injuries were cleared up in the week and the last one in two weeks. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNiall Gilligan is an All-Ireland winning Clare hurler (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy suffered a head injury, loss of consciousness, bowel incontinence and injuries to his arms and shoulders (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe boy and his friend let off fire extinguishers and removed keys at the hostel (irishtimes.com)
- whatGilligan had to clean up human faeces and urine from his property (irishtimes.com)
- whatNiall Gilligan is 48 and lives at Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged assault took place at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Broadford Road, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged assault took place at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe alleged assault took place at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare on 5 October 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGilligan is of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge. (irishtimes.com)
- whereGilligan is from Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident took place at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 5 October 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe two boys had been exploring the abandoned hostel after 5pm on the day of the incident (irishtimes.com)
- whenGilligan made a pre-prepared statement to gardaí on 19 February 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe boy's father brought his son to a VHI clinic at Raheen, Limerick on the evening of 5 October 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGilligan was formally arrested on suspicion of assault on 19 February 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGilligan's prepared statement was given at Shannon Garda Station in February 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 5 October 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe jury commenced deliberations at 12.33pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on the night of 5 October 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe also pleaded not guilty to producing a wooden stick capable of inflicting serious injury. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGilligan denies a charge of assault causing harm with a stick. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGilligan denies the assault causing harm with a stick of the then 12-year-old boy. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeGilligan denies a charge of assault causing harm to the boy with a stick (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGilligan, 48, of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies assault causing harm with a stick of a then 12-year-old boy at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge, on 5 October 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeGilligan denies assault causing harm with a stick of a boy, then 12. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGilligan appeared before Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was expected to take four to five days. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSeven men and five women were selected to serve on the jury. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford told the jury the trial would start on Wednesday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford commenced his charge to the jury at the conclusion of the closing speeches. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury will commence deliberations after the judge completes his charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is being heard at Ennis Circuit Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe State said self-defence should not be available due to the level of force used (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford commenced his charge to the jury (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury will begin deliberating after the judge completes his charge (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of seven men and five women retired to consider its verdict at Ennis Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford told the jury to make their decision after a cold, direct, forensic determination of the facts. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Comerford told the jury they must decide whether there was an assault and whether it is not an assault because of a lawful excuse. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Comerford told the jury in the self-defence defence they should consider whether the accused honestly believed he had to use force to protect himself from an assault or damage to his property. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury of seven men and five women is deliberating in the trial of Niall Gilligan. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard at Ennis Circuit Court before Judge Francis Comerford. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNiall Gilligan is a former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherGilligan owned the hostel at the time of the incident (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe hostel had been broken into and vandalised in the days leading up to 5 October (irishtimes.com)
- otherIn his November 2023 interview with gardaí, the teenager said he saw Gilligan hit his friend (irishtimes.com)
- otherLinda Quinn from Sixmilebridge runs the local GAA club shop (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe boy told Quinn he had fallen off his bike when asked what happened (irishtimes.com)
- otherGilligan is 48 and lives at Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe teenager was cross-examined via video link from a room at Ennis courthouse (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution said the defence of self-defence should not be available due to the level of force used. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDefence counsel Patrick Whyms BL said Gilligan was not trying to suggest he was entitled to punish the boy. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said Gilligan was at the end of his tether due to vandalism being done to a vacant property he was trying to sell. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said Gilligan was at the Jamaica Inn in the dark and believed he was under siege. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said Gilligan is a family man with young children and no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherProsecution counsel Sarah Jane Comerford BL described the incident as a story of a man who lost his cool. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherProsecution counsel said instead of picking up the boy after he slipped and driving him home, Gilligan hit him and lost it. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherProsecution counsel said there is no evidence the boy's injuries were caused by anything other than his interactions with Niall Gilligan. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherProsecution counsel said Gilligan lost control and punished the boy for damage and inconvenience caused to his property on a morning when he had to clean up human faeces and urine. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe jury took a break for lunch and will resume deliberations at 2pm. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jul2025Jurors to continue deliberating on assault claim against former Clare hurler Niall Gilligan
Jury deliberated for nearly three hours on Tuesday before asking the judge about next steps if not unanimous; Judge Comerford told them to break for the day. Defence and prosecution closing arguments summarised.
accused, Niall Gilligan, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Gilliganvictim, 12, male - 22 Jul2025Jury starts deliberation in trial of former hurling star Niall Gilligan
Reports the jury's retirement to deliberate, Judge Comerford's full direction on lawful force and self-defence, and the closing speeches by defence counsel Patrick Whyms BL and prosecution counsel Sarah Jane Comerford BL.
victim, 12, maleaccused, Niall Gilligan, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Gilligan - 21 Jul2025Clare hurler Niall Gilligan ‘lost control’ and ‘punished’ boy with stick, court hears
Covers the State's and defence's closing speeches and the judge's charge to the jury in the Niall Gilligan assault trial, including details of the boy's injuries and the defence of reasonable force.
accused, Niall Gilligan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Gilliganvictim, 12, male - 21 Jul2025Ex All-Star hurler accused of 'fabricated story' over alleged assault of boy, 12
Covers the closing speeches by prosecution and defence in the Niall Gilligan trial, with the judge commencing his jury charge.
victim, 12, maleaccused, Niall Gilligan, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Gilligan - 18 Jul2025Niall Gilligan case: Former hurler said he acted in ‘a reasonable manner’ at time of alleged assault on boy (12)
Provides detail of Gilligan's pre-prepared statement to gardaí, the boy's medical injuries (fractured left hand bone, 2cm wounds, bruising, brief loss of consciousness), the father's testimony about the VHI clinic visit and phone call to Gilligan, and Gilligan's account of the incident including the alleged break-in, fire, and entanglement under pine trees.
victim, 12, maleaccused, Niall Gilligan, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Gilligan - 17 Jul2025Teenager says he did not see former Clare hurler Niall Gilligan hit his 12-year-old friend with a stick, court hears
Details of testimony from the teenage witness and Linda Quinn during the ongoing trial, including the witness's retraction of his earlier statement that he saw Gilligan hit his friend, and Quinn's account of the boy's injuries that evening.
victim, 12, maleaccused, Niall Gilligan, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Gilligan - 15 Jul2025Former All-Star hurler Niall Gilligan denies assaulting boy with stick at Co Clare hostel
Reports the arraignment at which Gilligan pleaded not guilty to both charges, the jury selection, and the trial schedule set by Judge Francis Comerford.
suspect, Niall Gilligan, 48, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Gilliganvictim, male