Limerick ace Kyle Hayes set for court in fresh legal woe as hurler hit ...
LIMERICK hurling star Kyle Hayes is facing a fresh court date after being charged with dangerous driving.
Hayes - who walked free from a court in March after receiving a fully suspended sentence for violent disorder offences - is alleged to have been speeding at over 150kph in a 100kph zone.
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He was arrested and brought to a Garda station, where he was charged and released on bail.
Hayes is to appear before Mallow District Court on Tuesday in relation to the charge.
The GAA ace celebrated his 26th birthday the day before the alleged offence occurred near Mallow, Cork, on Sunday.
A Garda spokeswoman said: “As this matter is now before the courts, there is no further information available. Investigations are ongoing.”
Hayes was found guilty of offences by a jury after a two-week trial in November last year.
He was handed a suspended two-year sentence for violent disorder outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick on October 28, 2019, and a concurrent 18-month suspended sentence for violent disorder inside the club.
He was found not guilty of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy.
But Judge Dermot Sheehan said “none of this would have happened if not for Kyle Hayes”.
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Mr McCarthy had to undergo surgery for a severe injury to his eye socket.
The court heard that Hayes told cops he couldn’t recall approaching the victim in a nightclub and allegedly telling him to “stay the f* away” from two women he had been chatting to.
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The court heard that when Mr McCarthy tried to explain to Hayes they were his friends, the hurler got in his face.
Hayes is said to have shouted: “Do you know who the fk I am? I’m getting sick of you, I’m going to dig the head off you.”
After handing down suspended sentences for the offences, Judge Sheehan ordered Hayes to pay Mr McCarthy €10,000 in compensation.
Limerick hurling manager John Kiely had appeared as a character witness for Hayes and asked the judge to give the young man “a chance”.
Kiely did not condone Hayes’ behaviour on the night, describing it as “very disappointing”.
But the manager said: “He is somebody I trust, he has a very strong work ethic, he’s a strong leader, he puts his team first and himself last.
“He is someone I could rely on even in the most difficult of circumstances.”
Hayes played Championship with the Limerick hurlers this summer.
They were knocked out by Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final earlier this month, ending their hopes of five Liam MacCarthy cups on the bounce.
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