Trial date set in case of All-Ireland winning Clare hurler accused of assaulting young boy

A judge has directed that the assault trial of former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan be listed for July 15.

Following a call-over of cases at Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford directed that a number of cases be listed for trial on that date.

In doing so, he stated that cases where an accused is on remand in custody pending trial will take priority and he noted that there is one such case listed for July 15.

Judge Comerford listed the Gilligan case for trial behind the custody case and if the custody case does not proceed on July 15, the Niall Gilligan assault case will then be the first to proceed.

As part of the preparatory work for the trial, Judge Comerford held a ‘ground-rules’ hearing, in April, due to the age of the complainant in the case while another witness is also a juvenile.

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In the case, Mr Gilligan, aged 48, of Rosroe, Sixmilebridge denies the assault causing harm to a then 12 year old boy during an alleged ‘stick’ assault.

Judge Comerford previously appointed a court intermediary to the complainant and the second juvenile witness. 

Court intermediaries are appointed to assist juvenile witnesses with the court process.

Mr Gilligan is represented by barrister Patrick Whyms BL and solicitor, Daragh Hassett.

He denies the charge of assault causing harm of the boy at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Mt Ivers Road, Sixmilebridge contrary to Section 3 of the Offences Against the Person Act,

The offence is alleged to have happened on October 5 2023.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had initially directed that the case be heard on a summary basis in the district court but Judge Alec Gabbett declined district court jurisdiction after hearing an outline of the State case against Mr Gilligan.

In court last July, State solicitor for 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.

Solicitor for Mr Gilligan, Mr Hassett told the court last July 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”.

Last July, Ms Casey confirmed that both juvenile witnesses will give evidence by video link in the circuit court.

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.

The Sixmilebridge clubman also won two Munster titles with Clare and multiple honours with his club over a long, distinguished hurling career.

Judge Comerford further remanded Mr Gilligan on bail on the same terms.