*The trial continues at Ennis Circuit Court.
THE State has concluded its case against former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler, Niall Gilligan where the 48 year is accused of assaulting a then 12 year old boy with a stick in October 2023.
At Ennis Circuit Court on Monday, counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) told the court that the State had concluded its evidence in the case.
In the case, Mr Gilligan denies a charge of assault causing harm of a 12 year old boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge, on October 5th 2023.
In court this Monday morning, counsel for Mr Gilligan, Patrick Whyms BL (instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) called two witnesses on behalf of the defence.
The first defence witness, a professional photographer, Martin Murphy told the court that he took photos at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge on instruction of Niall Gilligan on October 5th 2024 – one year on from the alleged assault on October 5th 2023.
Mr Murphy took photos in the early evening from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the same time of the alleged assault in October 2023. Mr Murphy also went to the property to take more photos earlier this month and copies of all of the photos were shown to the jury.
Mr Murphy told the court that he knows “Niall since he was a young lad”.
The court was told that Mr Gilligan is a publican, auctioneer and a farmer who has cattle.
Shannon based builder provider, Flan O’Neill gave evidence that he sold plywood on October 5th 2023 to Niall Gilligan.
Mr O’Neill said that the plywood was cut to size as Mr Gilligan – who the jury has been told has no previous convictions – required the plywood due to broken windows at his Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge.
Mr O’Neill said the cost of the plywood for Mr Gilligan was €36 including VAT.
At the conclusion of Mr O’Neill’s evidence, Mr Whyms told Judge Francis Comerford “that’s the evidence in the case”.
Judge Comerford told the jury that they have now heard the evidence in the case and they will shortly hear closing speeches from lawyers for each side.
On Friday, the jury was also told that the then 12 year boy that Mr Gilligan is alleged to have assaulted sustained a fractured bone in his left hand.
Medical reports from October 2023 show that the boy on examination also had a 2 cm wound to his right forearm, a 2 cm wound to his right shin, bruising to his right shoulder while medics also believed that the boy lost consciousness briefly earlier on October 5th 2023.
Mr Gilligan was formally arrested on suspicion of assault at Shannon Garda Station on February 19th 2024 and accompanied there by his solicitor, Daragh Hassett, Mr Gilligan denied any assault and said that on October 5th 2023 at the Jamaica Inn hostel, “I acted in a reasonable manner to protect myself from injury and assault from a person or persons unknown to me in the conditions that prevailed”.
In a prepared statement, Mr Gilligan added, “I acted in a reasonable manner to protect my property from destruction by fire and further damage”.
He said, “I didn’t know who or what was coming at me that night”. He said, “I feel sorry for the boy but the fact is that if he and others hadn’t broken into my property, lit a fire, stole the keys and caused other damage, this incident would never have happened.
The case continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
