
GAA star accused of assaulting boy, 12, says he was 'protecting himself'
At Ennis Circuit Court today, the jury heard that Mr Gilligan made a pre-prepared statement to Gardai at Shannon Garda Station on February 19th 2024 in response to the then allegation that he assaulted a 12 year old boy with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel on October 5th 2023.
On Friday, the jury was also told that the 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.
The boy's hand was placed in a splint and he was advised not to engage in contact sports for one month after its removal later on October 20th 2023. Photographs of the boy's injuries were also shown to the jury along with the muck-stained clothes that the boy was wearing on October 5th.
In evidence, the boy's father said that he first brought his son to a VHI clinic at Raheen, Limerick on the evening of October 5th 2023.
He said: 'Once they (medical staff) started cutting his clothes off him they were finding more and more injuries.'
He said: 'They found he had soiled himself which led them to believe that he was unconscious at some stage.'
He said that medics at the VHI Clinic made the decision that the boy should be transferred by ambulance to the A&E at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The boy's father said that he didn't believe his son's initial story that he had fallen off his bike.
He said: 'I definitely didn't think that he fell off a bike. He was covered head to toe in muck.' The father said that his son 'had a swollen hand and he was limping. He was talking quite fast as well and he was pale so I imagine adrenaline and shock."
The father told the jury today that he got Niall Gilligan's phone number on the evening of October 5th after his son had told him what had occurred earlier where Mr Gilligan is accused of assaulting the boy with a stick. Niall Gilligan (file photo) (Image: ©INPHO/Donall Farmer)
Mr Gilligan (48) of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, denies the charge of assault causing harm with a stick at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5th 2023.
In evidence, the father said that he phoned Mr Gilligan and said: 'I said I am currently in A&E with my son who you just viciously attacked.' The father said that Mr Gilligan did not respond to the allegation.
In his account of the phone call, in his prepared statement read out in court by Dec Garda Noel Carroll, Mr Gilligan said: 'He said that his son got hurt. I made no comment to that after his son and others had broken into my building and caused extensive damage, including lighting a fire, releasing my fire extinguishers, breaking windows, writing graffiti."
Mr Gilligan said that he decided there and then to take legal advice 'as soon as I could about this call and make a formal complaint to the Gardai about the damage and trespass'.
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 the statement running to five pages, 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."
'Something was coming at me, wasn't retreating or calling out to me so I had to defend myself as any reasonable person would. 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."
He said: 'Since this incident, there has been despicable commentary about me over what actually happened - none of which is true. I am glad that I have the opportunity to set the record straight."
On the incident with the boy at the Jamaica Inn, Mr Gilligan told Gardai that he realised on the evening of October 5th 2023 'that I wasn't alone in the building'.
He said: "I went back down slowly picking up a wooden stick I found on the ground. As I entered the hallway, I heard voices and then saw two people running away to my left towards the external door I had come in. I then heard footsteps fast coming behind me over my right shoulder. I felt I was going to be attacked so to protect myself I drew out with the stick on two occasions and then kicked out twice.
'I shouted at the person to get back as I did this. At that stage, I could see that I was dealing with a male youth. I grabbed him by his coat or jacket and brought him out of the building. We went around the back to see where the other two intruders had gone to. When we got around the back we got entangled in the dark and fell on top of each other on a slippery path under the pine trees."
Mr Gilligan said that he told the youth 'never to again enter my property". He said: 'I proceeded to walk him out to the front gate. I asked him his name at this stage. He gave his name. He made no complaint of any injuries to me.'
He said: 'At that stage, I met Pat Donnellan who was parked outside. I told him that managing the property was a nightmare.' Mr Gilligan said that he had been "very concerned about fire and vandalism at the Jamaica Inn hostel'.
He said: 'Around this time there were rumours in Sixmilebridge that I was going to lease the building as accommodation for asylum seekers." Mr Gilligan added: 'There was resistance locally to this and there was no truth in that rumour as I had never been approached but I was concerned about an arson at the property especially after a fire had been lit and fire extinguishers were discharged.'
Mr Gilligan said that as he had every concern that the building would be burnt out, he said that rang the Gardai on October 4th just before lunchtime and the call rang out. He said: 'I called into Sixmilebridge Garda Station a few times that day but did not get to meet any Garda on duty." He said that he called to the Garda Station on the morning of October 5th 'but there was no one there'.
Mr Gilligan said that he purchased the Jamaica Inn hostel in 2022 and sold it on in late 2023 to a company in Shannon who required accommodation for staff.
At the conclusion of the evidence on Friday, Judge Francis Comerford told the jury that they had heard a lot of evidence today.
He cautioned: 'Don't come to any firm conclusions in your own minds until you have heard all the evidence, the speeches by the lawyers and the charge from me.'
The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women on Monday.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Dublin city's first static speed camera introduced in Dolphin's Barn
Dublin city's first static speed camera will commence operation in Dolphin's Barn from next Friday, said Gardaí. Vehicles detected driving in excess of the posted speed limit will be subject to prosecution from midday on August 1st. 'Prosecution of speeding offences takes place by Fixed Charge Notice (FCN),' Gardaí said. The current FCN is a €160 fine accompanied by three penalty points. Dolphin's Barn was identified as part of a wider national analysis as a road which could benefit from the implementation of a safety camera. READ MORE 'The location was selected based on fatal and serious injury collision data from the last seven years and speed data, as well as feedback from stakeholders,' Gardaí said. The family of Brazilian carer Josilaine Ribeiro, who was killed at Dolphin's Barn bridge in November 2023 while cycling to visit a patient, had previously called for road safety improvements in Dublin. [ Garda revokes more than 900 speed camera fines on stretch of N25 due to 'human error' Opens in new window ] Speed surveys on Lower Crumlin Road and at the Bridge over the Grand Canal at Dolphin's Barn undertaken as part of the UCD WeCount Traffic Impact data project in the six months before Ms Ribeiro's death had found more than 100 cars an hour were breaking the speed limits. Dublin City Council (DCC) said it was 'pleased to see the introduction by An Garda Síochána of the first ever static speed camera within the Council area'. 'The Council worked closely with An Garda Síochána to facilitate the installation and initial operation of the camera. DCC said it will continue to work with An Garda Síochána 'on road safety and measures which can help to improve road safety for all'.


Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man jailed for role in murder of David Douglas in Dublin shoe shop appeals conviction
A Dublin man jailed for life for his role in the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas who was 'executed' at a city centre shoe shop in Dublin nine years ago, has appealed his conviction arguing the court was wrong to find that a 'general association' with others linked to the crime was indicative of guilt. Mr Douglas (55) was shot six times in broad daylight as he took a meal break at the counter in his partner's shop, Shoestown in Dublin's Liberties. The semi-automatic pistol used in the murder had its serial number removed and was 'brazenly' left at the scene next to the deceased's head, the court heard. Lee Canavan (36) was jailed for life by Special Criminal Court on June 3rd, 2021. Canavan was the fourth man to be jailed in relation to the murder and his conviction was described by gardaí as 'significant'. READ MORE In 2018, gangster Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (45) was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Mr Douglas. In 2019, Nathan Foley (26) of Maryland, Dublin 8, was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence. Canavan's half-brother Gareth Brophy (30) was jailed in February 2020 for ten years also by the Special Criminal Court for his role as getaway driver. David 'Daithí' Douglas was shot dead in Dublin in 2016. In passing judgment, the non-jury court ruled that Canavan was part of a joint enterprise or shared intention to murder Mr Douglas in what was described as a 'meticulously planned execution'. However, the three-judge court did not agree with the State's contention that Canavan was 'the person who literally pulled the trigger', owing to a lack of forensic or identification evidence. Delivering judgment, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath said that four different vehicles had been used in the murder in a 'carefully planned assassination'. A Mercedes car used in the killing was found burned out near the shooting and a stolen Suzuki Swift was then used to ferry those in the Mercedes away from the burn site. Canavan, with an address at Edenbrook, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Douglas, who died after sustaining injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow and jaw at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1st, 2016. Launching an Appeal against his conviction on Friday, Canavan's senior counsel Michael Bowman argued the court had made an error by convicting Canavan of murder in circumstances where the prosecution opened the case on the basis that his client was the individual who 'literally pulled the trigger'. He also submitted the three-judge court was wrong to find that a general association with others was indicative of guilt. Mr Bowman said Canavan was 'habitually' seen with Freddie Thompson and Gareth Brophy, who was his half-brother. 'There is nothing unusual about that. His presence in their company is not of tremendous relevance,' counsel said. He went on to say that Canavan had been stopped 22 times in cars he was not entitled to drive and on 11 of those occasions he had been in the company of Freddie Thompson. 'The presence or absence of him in the company of these people in the vehicles is not extraordinary,' said Mr Bowman. Mr Bowman said the court ultimately took the view that there was enough to convict on the basis of joint enterprise/common design. However, the barrister said there was 'no reference' during the prosecution's opening to joint enterprise/common design. Mr Bowman said there was insufficient evidence of joint enterprise to convict of murder and the case was defended on the basis that the prosecution's case was that Canavan was the shooter. Mr Bowman also argued the court was wrong not to accede to a defence application for a direction of no case to answer. He said the court also erred in allowing the admission of identification evidence from two members of the gardaí. He submitted the purported identification by the two members of the force were not subject to oversight, processes or safeguards and that neither garda possessed notebooks or contemporaneous notes detailing the manner in which they made their identification, nor could they point out features causing them to identify Canavan in the CCTV. He also said statements from witness James Maughan should not have been admissible during the trial in circumstances where the case was opened on the basis that Canavan was the shooter and 'Mr Maughan was central to that'. In response, Tony McGillicuddy SC, for the DPP, said this case had involved 'planned execution of a man in his own shoe shop'. 'It was planned carefully to secrete certain vehicles in certain places, planned to ensure they were out of the radar,' said the barrister. He said these vehicles then became 'live' later in the afternoon – one as 'the murder vehicle' and the other as the 'getaway' car – for the team involved in the killing. Mr McGillicuddy said the court found Canavan was 'an integral part' of that team on the basis of joint enterprise. He said the court found Canavan was 'centrally involved' in the placement of vehicles in areas not covered by CCTV and fed the meters to ensure they would be available later on. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the court would reserve judgment. A father of one, Canavan was concurrently jailed for five years for the criminal damage to the getaway vehicle, a stolen Suzuki Swift, in Sandymount three days after the shooting. After the guilty verdict was delivered in May 2021, Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary told media outside of court that Canavan's conviction was 'very significant' and that gardaí had now convictions for the 'whole murder cell'.


Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Three care workers injured in latest incident at Oberstown
Three residential social care workers have been injured in the latest incidence of violence towards staff at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus . The injuries, which were all sustained in the one wider incident, resulted in two female staff having to be taken to hospital by ambulance while a male staff member also sought medical attention, said staff. The assaults involved a single teenage boy and the female staff involved were said by their colleague to have been kicked in the torso and seriously hurt. The latest incident brings to 13 the number of staff reported to have been injured at the facility since the start of June. READ MORE Fórsa, the union which represents many of the staff at Oberstown, has said there is a big problem with staffing levels at the facility and in an interview with RTÉ radio recently, Koulla Yiasouma, suggested that an additional 20 to 30 care staff are required. At present, about 250 people are employed at Oberstown of whom about 150 are considered frontline, mainly residential social care workers. In the facility's recently published annual report, Ms Yiasouma alluded to ongoing issues at the campus, describing 2024 as having been 'particularly challenging as our occupancy levels have remained high and staffing levels are still a challenge'. 'The needs of some of the young people are increasingly complex and the willingness of the whole staff team to adapt to those needs is remarkable. Privately, however, staff say theyoften feel unsafe due to the numbers on the duty and what they believe are flawed procedures for dealing with the small number of particularly violent teenagers in the units. A survey of staff members conducted earlier this year found a majority believed individual and collective morale was low with many saying they felt unsupported by management and that conditions had become worse over the previous 12 months. Oberstown has a capacity of 40 boys and six girls. Ms Yiasouma said it rarely has a free bed. The annual report details the positive work carried out with the roughly 120 young people who were there at some point last year, citing the numbers who were trained as baristas, fitness instructors and, in one instance, a forklift driver. But there is little acknowledgment, the staff say, of the daily challenges they face. In a statement made in relation to Thursday's incident, Oberstown said it 'offers its full support to any member of staff who has been injured in the course of their duties. As a matter of policy, every incident at Oberstown is subject to a thorough internal reporting and review process, which operates on the principles of supporting all individuals involved and maintaining the integrity of the review. 'Oberstown does not comment on operational details relating to specific incidents. Where injuries occur, individuals are assessed by the on-site medical team and, in accordance with standard procedure, may be referred to hospital for further checks. 'Oberstown has robust safety procedures in place, and all relevant protocols were followed in this instance. The campus was appropriately staffed, and the situation was managed in line with established practice.'