Ireland Man jailed for two years over vicious assault on American couple
On 17 March 2024, St Patrick's Day, Mark Hayes (35), of Shannon, Co Clare, is alleged to have assaulted his then girlfriend at a house at Rineanna View in Shannon, leaving her hospitalised for 11 days at University Hospital Limerick with a broken eye socket, broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Hayes was charged with assault causing harm, false imprisonment and threatening to kill her, and with assault causing harm of Denis Galvin, a man, in Shannon on April 10, and he has been held on remand since April 12 after failing to secure bail. The trial was adjourned at Ennis Circuit Court pending a hospital report, and on November 5 Hayes pleaded guilty to both assault charges and to threatening to kill the woman. On November 18, Judge Francis Comerford at Ennis Circuit Court jailed Hayes for seven years and one month, with the final 15 months suspended, backdated to April 12.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Nov
4 reports - Convicted5 Nov
- Sentenced18 Nov
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- It is alleged Hayes punched his then girlfriend in the face and knocked her to the side.
- The woman was hospitalised with a broken eye socket, broken ribs and a collapsed lung, and needed a plate inserted for her facial injury.
- Cause
- It is alleged Hayes grabbed the woman's hand and made her hold a knife, saying he was putting her fingerprints on it.
- Weapon
- It is alleged Hayes took a blue handled sharp knife, ten or twelve inches long, during the attack.
- Where
- The assault took place at a house at Rineanna View in Shannon, Co Clare.
- When
- The assault took place on 17 March 2024, St Patrick's Day.
- Other details
- The woman was released from University Hospital Limerick on 28 March, after 11 days in hospital.
- Hayes has 20 previous convictions, and the judge described the injuries as being at the highest level of assault causing harm offending.
- Charges
- Hayes was charged with assault causing harm, false imprisonment and threatening to kill his then girlfriend.
- Hayes was also charged with assault causing harm of Denis Galvin, a man, in Shannon on April 10.
- Investigation
- When first interviewed by gardaí, Hayes denied any knowledge of the assault on his then partner.
- In court
- The trial was adjourned at Ennis Circuit Court on the State's application, opposed by the defence, because the hospital patient report was not yet available.
- Hayes has been on remand in custody at Limerick prison since April 12 after failing to secure bail.
- On November 5 at Ennis Circuit Court, Hayes pleaded guilty to both assault causing harm charges and to threatening to kill the woman, on a full facts basis.
- Sentence
- On November 18, Judge Francis Comerford jailed Hayes for seven years and one month, with the final 15 months suspended, backdated to April 12.
62 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMark Hayes is charged with assault causing harm and false imprisonment of his then girlfriend. (clareecho.ie)
- whatThe alleged injured party was treated at University Hospital Limerick for 11 days. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatMark Hayes pleaded guilty to assault causing harm of his then girlfriend. (clareecho.ie)
- whatThe victim was left with a broken eye socket, broken ribs and a collapsed lung. (clareecho.ie)
- whatHayes punched the woman in the face and knocked her to the side. (clareecho.ie)
- whatThe woman was hospitalised with a broken eye socket, broken ribs and a collapsed lung. (clareecho.ie)
- whatThe woman required a plate to be inserted for her facial injury. (clareecho.ie)
- whatHayes grabbed the woman's hand and made her hold the knife, saying he was putting her fingerprints on it. (clareecho.ie)
- whatA separate assault causing harm offence was committed on a Co Clare man on April 10th in Shannon. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences happened at a house at Rineanna View in Shannon. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at a house at Rineanna View in Shannon. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe alleged offences took place at a house at Rineanna View in Shannon. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe assault happened at Rineanna View in Shannon. (clareecho.ie)
- whereThe assault on the woman took place at Rineanna View, Shannon. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences happened on 17 March. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on March 17. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe alleged offences took place on 17 March 2024. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe assault happened on St Patrick's Day. (clareecho.ie)
- whenThe assault on the woman took place on St Patrick's Day. (clareecho.ie)
- weaponHayes took a blue handled sharp knife that was ten or twelve inches long during the attack. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationThe State has received a medical report on the alleged victim's hospital attendance but says an updated report is required. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationThe hospital told gardaí it was 100 percent likely the patient report would be ready for court on Tuesday. (clareecho.ie)
- investigationWhen first interviewed by gardaí, Hayes denied any knowledge of the assault on his then partner. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeHayes is also charged with threatening to kill his then girlfriend. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeMark Hayes is charged with false imprisonment of his then girlfriend. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeMark Hayes is also charged with assault causing harm of the same woman. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeMark Hayes is also accused of threatening to kill the complainant on the same date. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeMark Hayes is charged with the false imprisonment of his then girlfriend. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeMark Hayes is also accused of threatening to kill the alleged injured party on the same date. (limerickleader.ie)
- chargeHayes is charged with false imprisonment of his then girlfriend. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeHayes is also charged with assault causing harm of the same woman. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeMark Hayes also pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his then girlfriend. (clareecho.ie)
- chargeHayes pleaded guilty to both assault causing harm charges and to threatening to kill the woman. (clareecho.ie)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford at Ennis Circuit Court granted the State an adjournment. (clareecho.ie)
- courtDefence counsel opposed the adjournment, saying the trial was listed as a priority case. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at Ennis Circuit Court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford granted an adjournment because the patient report was not yet available to the court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe State hopes to proceed with the trial on the following Tuesday. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge said he will give the case priority. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge granted an adjournment because the patient report was not yet available to the court. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe State hopes to proceed with the trial on Tuesday. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe case is before Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
- courtJudge Comerford granted an adjournment the previous week because the patient report was not yet available. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe State hoped to proceed with the trial on Tuesday. (clareecho.ie)
- courtJudge Comerford said he would give the case priority on Tuesday. (clareecho.ie)
- courtThe guilty pleas were entered at Ennis Circuit Court on a Tuesday. (clareecho.ie)
- courtMr Hayes has been on remand in custody at Limerick prison since April 12th after failing to secure bail. (clareecho.ie)
- courtJudge Francis Comerford presided at Ennis Circuit Court. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceMr Hayes was remanded in custody for sentencing on Friday, 15 November. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceHayes was jailed for seven years and one month. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence for the assault on his then girlfriend was 70 months, or six years and ten months. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceA consecutive 30 month term, with the final 15 months suspended, was imposed for the assault on Denis Galvin. (clareecho.ie)
- sentenceJudge Comerford backdated Hayes's sentence to April 12. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe judge said the trial may proceed the following week if the medical report is available. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe alleged victim spent 11 days in hospital after the alleged assault. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe complainant was released from hospital on March 28, 11 days after the alleged incident. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe alleged victim was released from hospital on 28 March. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe victim required a plate to be inserted for a facial injury. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe guilty pleas were entered on a full facts basis. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe judge directed a victim impact statement for the sentencing hearing. (clareecho.ie)
- otherHayes has 20 previous convictions. (clareecho.ie)
- otherThe judge described the injuries as being at the highest level of assault causing harm offending. (clareecho.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Nov2024Shannon man gets seven year prison sentence for unprovoked 'callous' St Partrick's Day assault of then girlfriend - Clare Echo
Sentencing report covering two assault causing harm offences: the St Patrick's Day assault on his then girlfriend in Shannon and an assault on Denis Galvin on April 10th in Shannon. Hayes pleaded guilty to both and to threatening to kill the woman.
convicted, Mark Hayes, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Hayesvictim, femalevictim, Denis Galvin, male, irish (judged from name)Denis Galvin - 5 Nov2024Shannon man pleads guilty to 'very serious assault' that left female victim with a broken eye socket, broken ribs and a collapsed lung - Clare Echo
Reports Mark Hayes's guilty pleas at Ennis Circuit Court on 5 November 2024, the remand in custody and the sentencing date of 15 November. Adds the charge of threatening to kill and the injuries detail from the bail hearing.
convicted, Mark Hayes, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Hayesvictim, female - 5 Nov2024Hospital tells Garda it is 100% likely medical report of Shannon man will be ready to allow trial proceed - Clare Echo
Adds that the hospital told gardaí it was "100 percent likely" the patient report would be ready for court on Tuesday, that the State hoped to proceed with the trial that day, and that Judge Comerford would give the case priority. It also names the charges and the court, and says the alleged victim was released from hospital on 28 March.
accused, Mark Hayes, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Hayesvictim, female - 4 Nov2024Trial of man accused of falsely imprisoning girlfriend at Shannon home to be given 'priority'
Adds the court hearing on 4 November 2024 at Ennis Circuit Court: the adjournment, the expected hospital report, the priority given to the trial, and the charges of false imprisonment and threats to kill.
accused, Mark Hayes, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Hayesvictim, female - 4 Nov2024Trial of man accused of falsely imprisoning girlfriend at Clare home to be given 'priority'
Procedural update at Ennis Circuit Court: the hospital patient report was not yet available, the case was adjourned, and the judge said he would give the trial priority. Adds charges of false imprisonment and threatening to kill, and details of the complainant's hospital treatment.
accused, Mark Hayes, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Hayesvictim, female - 1 Nov2024Adjournment granted to State in trial of Shannon man - Clare Echo
Adds that the trial was adjourned at Ennis Circuit Court on the State's application, opposed by the defence, pending an updated medical report on the alleged victim. Lists the three charges and the 11 days in hospital.
accused, Mark Hayes, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Hayesvictim