All-Star hurler Kyle Hayes avoids jail after being deemed suitable for community service

The Probation Service has deemed All-Star Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes suitable to carry out community service in lieu of a prison sentence, Limerick Criminal Circuit Court heard this Monday.

Judge Colin Daly was informed by Kyle Hayes' barrister Brian McInerney that there had been full co-operation by his client.

When the matter was called, Mr McInerney SC said he appears with Liam Carroll BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan.

"The Section 99 matter was dealt with by your colleague Judge Dara Hayes. He indicated a suitability assessment for community service.

"There has been full co-operation from the accused. He has been deemed suitable (by the Probation Service), work has been identified and all arrangements necessary are all in place," said Mr McInerney.

Judge Daly said it would be a matter for Judge Dara Hayes and adjourned the matter to May 19. The five-time All-Ireland winning hurler was in court for the brief procedural matter.

Last month, Judge Dara Hayes ordered Kyle Hayes to carry out 180 hours of community service in lieu of three-months in prison after a dangerous driving conviction “triggered” a suspended sentence for violent disorder.

The matter was adjourned in March until this Monday to allow for Kyle Hayes to engage with the Probation Service so they could determine his suitability to carry out community service.

Last month, Judge Dara Hayes said the dangerous driving offence in July 2024 was not a repeat of the violent public disorder in 2019 for which Kyle Hayes received concurrent suspended prison sentences of 18-months and two-years in 2023.

Judge Dara Hayes said it was an inescapable fact to anyone with even the most passing interest in sport that Kyle Hayes is a very talented and highly-decorated hurler on a very successful Limerick hurling team.

Judge Dara Hayes said the question he had to ask himself is if some other young man without Kyle Hayes’ public profile came before him in similar circumstances "would I activate all or part of a suspended sentence?"

"If I were to do so to that young man, then I must do so with this respondent (Kyle Hayes). If I were not to do so to that young man, then I should not do so here.  The triggering offence (dangerous driving) while serious is not related to the nature or the severity of the offending of the original offences (violent disorders).

"They were committed over five years ago, there is nothing before the court to suggest that the respondent has engaged in any such behaviour since. His behaviour on October 19, 2019 was appalling," said Judge Dara Hayes.

The judge said it was appropriate to activate three months of the suspended sentence.

"Where there is a short sentence, it is often the case that it is more constructive to require a defendant to engage in a significant amount of voluntary work in the community, rather than the imposition of a short sentence of imprisonment.

"If the respondent is prepared to engage, he will be assessed by the Probation Service and required to work under their supervision in the community for 180 hours in lieu of three months imprisonment," said Judge Dara Hayes, who asked Liam Carroll BL to take instructions from his client.

Mr Carroll BL took brief instructions from Kyle Hayes and told the judge his client is happy to engage with the Probation Service and carry out the 180 hours of community service in lieu of three-months in prison.

READ MORE | Tributes paid to ‘beloved husband and incredible father’ who died while climbing Errigal