Courts

Former Clare hurler Niall Gilligan allegedly fractured hand of 12-year-old boy with stick

Farmer and auctioneer allegedly assaulted boy in disused hostel he owns

The boy allegedly lost consciousness during the incident. Photograph: Eamon Ward
The boy allegedly lost consciousness during the incident. Photograph: Eamon Ward
Gordon Deegan
Wed Jul 24 2024 - 16:14

Former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan allegedly repeatedly struck a 12-year-old boy with a stick causing a series of injuries, a court has heard.

At Ennis District Court on Wednesday, State Solicitor for Co Clare, Aisling Casey, told the court that one of the injuries the boy was treated for in the aftermath of the alleged assault by Mr Gilligan (47) was a fractured left hand.

Solicitor for Mr Gilligan, Daragh Hassett, told the court that the sequence of events set out by the State is not accepted by his client and “there is a complete dispute in relation to what is alleged to have happened here”.

Ms Casey said that the DPP had directed the prosecution against Mr Gilligan be heard in the District Court.

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However, after hearing an outline of the State case against Mr Gilligan from Ms Casey to determine which court the case will be heard in, Judge Alec Gabbett declined District Court jurisdiction.

Judge Gabbett directed that the case against Mr Gilligan of Rosroe, Sixmilebridge, now go forward to the Circuit Court where more serious penalties apply on conviction for assault causing harm.

Outlining the background to the charges against Mr Gilligan, Ms Casey said the

alleged injured party was with a friend, also aged 12, and they were on a disused property, the Jamaica Inn in Sixmilebridge which is owned by the accused.

Ms Casey said: “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 that it will be alleged that the alleged 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 stated 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 by the boy on the occasion along with significant bruising at the top right shoulder, the buttocks and lower back.

Ms Casey said that injuries also included a 2cm long wound was on the boy’s forearm and a 2cm long wound to the right shin which both required suturing.

She stated that following orthopaedic intervention, a fracture was identified on the boy’s left hand. He subsequently made a full recovery from the hand injury.

After declining jurisdiction, Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to September 18th to allow a book of evidence to be served on Mr Gilligan.

Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr Gilligan on bail to reappear before court on September 18th.

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.