THE mother of the victim of violent disorder by Kyle Hayes has said she was “disgusted” at him being given an GAA All-Star award.
Last December, Hayes, 26, received a fully suspended jail sentence for two counts of violent disorder inside and outside a nightclub in October 2019.
The victim, Cillian McCarthy, suffered trauma, underwent surgery for a fractured eye socket, and suffered loss of earnings due to the nature of his injuries.
Last Friday, the Kildimo-Pallaskenry man was one of four Limerick players receiving All-Stars – the fifth consecutive gong of his career.
Hayes was also on the shortlist for Hurler of the Year, a prize won by Clare star and 2024 All-Ireland champion Shane O’Donnell.
Speaking on Tuesday’s LiveLine on RTERadio 1, however, Cillian McCarthy’s mother Elaine said she was “disgusted” that Hayes was being recognised.
Asked if an apology would help to fix the damage caused, she responded: “No because it would be for the wrong reasons. It’s a little too late – it’s five years too late.
”The past is the past but just because [Hayes] is a great boy and he goes into the hospice doesn’t take away the fact of what he did to Cillian.
“Only for the gardai arriving on that night, Cillian may not be alive today.
“The kicks that were put to Cillian’s head were ferocious
“He was lying on the ground in the fetal position [and] covering his head asking them to stop. The more he asked them to stop, the more ferocious their kicks got.
“That doesn’t take away that Kyle can go into a few hospices and hospitals and parade the Liam MacCarthy.
“It doesn’t take away what he did to Cillian.
“There was no support for Cillian as the victim.
“We had to work together as a family to pull Cillian through.’
“We’ve had this hanging over us for four years. Cillian was the victim here, let’s not forget that.
“Cillian didn’t go out and ask to be beaten. He didn’t asked to be kicked. He went out for a few drinks with his friends – he didn’t come home the same way he went out.
‘PROFOUND EFFECT’
“It’s all been about Kyle. ‘Oh, poor Kyle’, ‘Kyle has had this hanging over him’. Well so have we.
“I’m Cillian’s mam. Cillian’s my boy. We’ve all suffered mentally as well. It hasn’t had a profound effect on Kyle.
“He was the instigator here – not Cillian.”
The five-time All-Ireland winner appeared before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on October 7 for re-entry of the two-year suspended sentence which was triggered last month after Hayes was convicted of dangerous driving before Mallow District Court.
He will have to wait until at least December to find out if he is going to jail for the offence.
Hayes is appealing the dangerous driving conviction.