Ex-All Star hurler acquitted of stick assault on boy, 12

Gilligan 'felt he was under threat' in hostel incident

- BY GORDON DEEGAN

A FORMER All Star hurler was yesterday acquitted of assaulting a boy with a stick.

At Ennis Circuit Court, the jury of seven men and five women returned a majority not guilty verdict in the charge against 48-year-old Niall Gilligan.

The All-Ireland winner had denied assault causing harm of the then 12-year-boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn Hostel, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, on October 5, 2023.

Mr Gilligan sat impassively in the court as the registrar read out the verdicts and left the court without commenting on the case.

Two women in the Gilligan family group seated at the back of the court to support the defendant wept as the verdicts were called.

The parents of the alleged injured party sitting on the opposite side of the chamber left the courtroom shortly after the verdicts were announced.

The jury delivered their verdict after more than five hours of deliberations.