Five-time All-Ireland-winning Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes has been acquitted of assault but found guilty of two counts of violent disorder, as the verdict was delivered in his assault case on Friday.
Mr Hayes was involved in an incident on October 28th, 2019 inside and outside Limerick's ICON nightclub.
The jury reached a unanimous decision after deliberating for just over four hours.
When will Kyle Hayes be sentenced?
Judge Dermot Sheehan remanded Hayes on bail and set a sentencing hearing date of January 19th, 2024.
He was told by the judge that he could face a custodial sentence.
What is violent disorder?
Violent disorder is a public order offence "when 3 or more people are together at a place, and they use or threaten to use violence, and their conduct would cause someone of reasonable firmness, who was present at that place to fear for their or someone else’s safety."
Kyle Hayes assault case: the background
Hayes, who won Young Hurler of The Year back in 2018 and recently picked up his fourth All-Star award last Friday night, was accused of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy, aged 24, originally from Hilltop, St Patrick’s Road, Limerick, in the vicinity of the ICON nightclub in October 2019.
A number of witnesses told the court that they saw Mr Hayes punching Mr McCarthy inside the night club.
Two gardai gave evidence that they saw Mr Hayes punching a man on the ground outside the night club.
The jury that was sworn in to hear the case consisted of seven men and five women. It took four hours to come up with a verdict.
Craig Cosgrave, a friend of Cillian McCarthy was acquitted of one charge of violent disorder on Friday.
According to reporters at the trial, Mr Cosgrave's family congratulated him after the acquittal. Mr Cosgrave also told reporters that he's looking forward to 'getting on with his studies'.
22-year-old Jai Chaudri, from Killdimo in Co Limerick, was a co-accused in the case, but all charges against him were dropped earlier in the week
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