Victim’s mother speaks out after Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes receives All-Star award
Kyle Hayes was charged with two counts of violent disorder at the Icon Nightclub, Limerick. Picture: Brendan Gleeson
The mother of the young man who was the victim of violent disorder by Kyle Hayes has spoken out after the Limerick hurler was awarded a GAA All-Star.
Elaine McCarthy, mother of Cillian McCarthy, who was the victim of violent disorder by Kyle Hayes in 2019, said it was “absolutely disgusting” that Hayes received the award.
“The GAA standing over this type of behaviour, it's unbelievable,” Ms McCarthy said.
It was indicated that the off-field issues regarding the five-time All-Ireland-winning hurler were not raised during the discussion as to whether he would be given the award.
Last year, Hayes was convicted of two counts of violent disorder.
Hayes had pleaded not guilty to two violent disorder charges and one charge of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy in and outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick on October 28, 2019. However, he was convicted by a jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court last December of two counts of violent disorder. He was found not guilty of assault.
In March, Judge Dermot Sheehan sentenced Hayes to 18 months in prison for the first count of violent disorder and two years in prison for the second count of violent disorder. The sentences were to run concurrently.
However, Judge Sheehan said it would be “of no benefit to society” to give Hayes an immediate custodial sentence and suspended it.
The case was re-entered last month following his conviction for dangerous driving in September. An appeal of his dangerous driving conviction has been lodged.
A Section 99 hearing, which could allow the Circuit Court to trigger Hayes’ two-year suspended sentence for violent disorder could not proceed due to the appeal, Hayes' barrister said last month. The Section 99 hearing has been adjourned until December 9.
Speaking on RTÉ's , Ms McCarthy said that neither Cillian nor his family ever got an apology from the Limerick hurler, either directly or through his legal team.
She said that her "whole world fell apart" the morning after the incident when her son came home.
“He stood there in front of me with a big face, his eye was put back into his head, his face was full of blood, and I just went ‘Oh my lord, what happened to you?’" Ms McCarthy recalled.
"Cillian is such a quiet lad. I just couldn't believe that he'd ever be involved in anything. Let alone come home to me in the state he came home.”
She said her son currently lives in Australia with his girlfriend, where he will “hopefully stay for a couple of years”.
“They had kind of planned it anyway for quite some time. I suppose with the whole delay with the case and everything, Cillian couldn't move anywhere.
“It had a profound effect on him. Cillian is a very laid-back character. I would describe him as a gentle giant. He's a twin and he'd be the quieter of the twins.
“He was very hardworking, enjoyed life, and then he just became totally withdrawn,” Ms McCarthy added.
On Monday, callers debated on whether Hayes deserved to receive an All-Star after having been found guilty of violent disorder.
Presenter Joe Duffy asked Ms McCarthy what she thought of the argument that “the past is the past”.
She replied that it may be, but that it doesn’t take away from what Kyle Hayes did to her son.
Ms McCarthy added: “Cillian was the victim here, let's not forget that. Cillian didn't go out and ask to be beaten, he didn't ask to be kicked. He went out for a few drinks with his friends. He didn't come home the same way he went out.”
According to Ms McCarthy, the incident has “all been about Kyle”.
“It's all been about Kyle, poor Kyle. I'm Cillian's mom. Cillian's my boy. We’ve all suffered mentally as well. So it hasn't just had a profound effect on Kyle, Kyle's an instigator here.”
