Clare's former All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan to face trial for ...

The DPP had initially directed that the case be heard in the district court but Judge Gabbett declined district court jurisdiction in the case after hearing an outline of the State case against Mr Gilligan in July.

On Wednesday, Sgt John Burke told the court that the DPP consents to Mr Gilligan’s case going forward to the circuit court. No legal aid application was made for the circuit court case on behalf of Mr Gilligan who works as an auctioneer and farmer.

In July, State Solicitor for County Clare, Aisling Casey told the court that one of the injuries the boy was treated for in the aftermath of the alleged ‘stick assault’ by Mr Gilligan was a fractured left hand.

Daragh Hassett, solicitor for Mr Gilligan, told the court “there is a complete dispute in relation to what is alleged to have happened here”.

As part of the State case, a medical report and photos of the boy’s injuries were handed into court in July and Judge Gabbett said at the time: 

I am looking at photographs here and what I am seeing is a child with significant injuries over and above what the district court should be dealing with so I am going to refuse jurisdiction.

Mr Gilligan is charged with assault causing harm to a 12-year old boy at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Mt Ivers Rd, Sixmildebridge on October 5. He is also charged with producing a wooden stick during the course of a dispute. He denies both charges.

Ms Casey said the alleged injured party was with a friend also aged 12 at the disused Jamaica Inn owned by the accused. “When the boys were on the property, it will be alleged that the accused confronted the two boys and produced a wooden stick and the boys attempted to flee," she said.

She said it will be alleged the injured party “slipped on muddy ground and while lying on the ground, it will be alleged that the accused struck him several times with the wooden stick he had in his possession".

Ms Casey said the boy returned home on foot and was brought first to the VHI clinic and subsequently transferred to University Hospital Limerick that evening.

Ms Casey said that the injuries reported was a loss of consciousness, significant bruising to the shoulder, buttocks and lower back and a 2cm-long wound on the boy’s forearm and a-2cm long wound to the right shin. She said a fracture was identified in the boy’s left hand.

Mr Gilligan was a star forward for the senior Clare hurling team which defeated Tipperary to win the 1997 All-Ireland Final and was named an All-Star in 1999.