Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7001Violent disorder and assault · Co. Limerick · 28 Oct 2019

Limerick hurler's barrister asks jury to give him back his life in assault trial

Kyle Hayes, 25, of Ballyashea, Kildimo, is accused of assaulting Cillian McCarthy, 24, outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick city on 28 October 2019, though one account gives 29 October. Hayes is charged with assault causing harm and two counts of violent disorder, and denies all charges. His co-accused Craig Cosgrave, 24, of Caherally, Grange, is charged with one count of violent disorder and denies it. Evidence was heard at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court from 28 November 2023, the prosecution rested on 29 November, and closing addresses were made on 30 November. Judge Dermot Sheehan has begun charging the jury, and will resume on Friday morning.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Nov
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Two gardaí told the court they saw Hayes kicking a man lying on the street outside the nightclub.
  • McCarthy told the trial he was attacked on the dance floor and then stamped and kicked on the ground after being followed out of the club.
  • Hayes is accused of being part of a mob that chased, punched, stamped and kicked McCarthy.
  • Hayes is also alleged to have punched McCarthy on the nightclub dance floor.
Where
The alleged assault took place outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick city.
When
The incident is dated 28 October 2019 in one account and 29 October 2019 in another.
Cause
The prosecution alleges Hayes was the aggressor in a dance floor brawl involving McCarthy earlier that night.
Investigation
Hayes fled the scene, was chased and was arrested by Detective Garda Dean Landers after being cut off; in interviews he denied assaulting McCarthy but admitted running away.
Charges
  • Hayes is charged with assault causing harm to McCarthy and two counts of violent disorder, and denies all charges.
  • Cosgrave is charged with one count of violent disorder inside the Icon nightclub and denies it.
In court
  • Hayes is before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, where the evidence was heard and the prosecution rested its case on Wednesday.
  • Judge Dermot Sheehan has begun charging the jury and will resume on Friday morning.
Other details
  • Gardaí said there was chaos, shouting and crowds on the street, and neither garda saw what led to the attack or who struck the first blow.
  • Hayes told gardaí he did not know how McCarthy sustained a fracture to a bone under his right eye.
  • Hayes's barrister asked the jury to give him his life back, saying the case had taken four years to reach court.
36 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTwo gardaí told the court they saw Hayes kicking a man lying on the street. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDetective Landers said he saw Hayes throw numerous kicks at a male lying on the ground. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGarda O'Riordan said he saw between 10 and 12 men fighting on the street. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcCarthy told the trial that Hayes and others attacked him on the dancefloor of the club. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcCarthy told the trial that he was stamped and kicked on the ground after being followed out of the club. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatKyle Hayes is accused of being part of a mob that chased, punched, stamped and kicked Cillian McCarthy. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged assault took place outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged assault happened outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe alleged attack happened outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick city. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident is alleged to have happened on 29 October 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged assault happened in October 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe alleged attack happened on October 28th, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe prosecution alleges Hayes and others were involved in a dance floor brawl involving the alleged victim earlier that night. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationHayes was chased and apprehended after fleeing the scene. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDetective Landers said he eventually arrested Hayes after cutting him off as he ran. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAfter his arrest on suspicion of assault, Hayes told gardaí he did not carry out the attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationIn interviews with gardaí, Kyle Hayes denied assaulting Cillian McCarthy. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHayes is charged with assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHayes is charged with two counts of violent disorder. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHayes denies all charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCosgrave denies one count of violent disorder. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKyle Hayes is before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on two counts of violent disorder and one count of assault causing harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCraig Cosgrave has denied a single count of violent disorder inside the Icon nightclub. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKyle Hayes faces two counts of violent disorder and one count of assault. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeCraig Cosgrave is charged with violent disorder in the club. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe evidence was heard at Limerick Circuit Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe prosecution rested its case on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKyle Hayes is before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Dermot Sheehan began charging the jury and will resume on Friday morning. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHayes told one garda to swear at him and pulled his arm away from the garda's grip before running off. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherNeither garda saw what led to the attack or who struck the first blow. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí agreed there was chaos, shouting and roaring, with crowds on the street at the time. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHayes told gardaí he did not know how McCarthy sustained a fracture to a bone under his right eye. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKyle Hayes is also alleged to have punched Cillian McCarthy on the nightclub dance floor. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKyle Hayes denies all of the charges against him. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution said Kyle Hayes was the aggressor on the night. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Nov2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Barrister for Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes asks assault trial jury to ‘give him back his life’

    Closing addresses to the jury in the trial of Kyle Hayes and Craig Cosgrave; the judge has begun his charge and will resume on Friday morning.

    accused, Kyle Hayes, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kyle Hayesvictim, Cillian McCarthy, 24, male, irish (judged from name)Cillian McCarthyaccused, Craig Cosgrave, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig Cosgrave
  2. 29 Nov2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes told gardaí he did not carry out assault on man outside nightclub, trial hears

    Trial report: Hayes's Garda interview evidence, the Garda evidence of the arrest and the prosecution resting its case. Co-accused Craig Cosgrave has denied a count of violent disorder.

    accused, Kyle Hayes, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kyle Hayesvictim, Cillian McCarthy, 24, male, irish (judged from name)Cillian McCarthyaccused, Craig Cosgrave, 24, male, named, irish (judged from name)Craig Cosgrave
  3. 28 Nov2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Gardaí gave chase on foot to All-Ireland winning hurler Kyle Hayes after alleged assault outside nightclub

    Court hearing at Limerick Circuit Court in which two gardaí gave evidence, with cross-examination. Both accused deny the charges.

    accused, Kyle Hayes, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kyle Hayesaccused, Craig Cosgrave, 24, named, irish (judged from name)Craig Cosgravevictim, Cillian McCarthy, 24, irish (judged from name)Cillian McCarthy