3 days ago
Kyle Hayes's brothers jailed for savage attack transferred to open prison 19 weeks into sentences
Two Limerick brothers jailed for an unprovoked attack on a former friend, have been transferred from Limerick Prison to an open, low-security facility, four months into sentences of two and two-and-a-half years in jail.
Cian Hayes (aged 33) and Daragh Hayes (aged 37), who were both jailed on January 30 last, have served around 19 weeks as prisoners among the general population of the high-security Limerick Prison.
The two siblings, from Ballyashea, Kildimo, Co Limerick, were transferred from Limerick Prison to Shelton Abbey, Co Wicklow, an open, low-security prison for males who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security, last Monday, several reliable sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The Hayes brothers lured their then friend and former Limerick athlete and minor Gaelic football star, Ciaran Ryan, to Daragh Hayes's house and attacked him with a hurley and a foot-long steel wrench.
The two brothers interrogated Mr Ryan about a text message he had sent to Daragh Hayes's ex-partner several months beforehand, which the court heard had been entirely innocent in nature.
When contacted on Wednesday and asked for his reaction to the transfer of the two men who attacked him leaving him with serious injuries, Mr Ryan replied: 'No comment, I just want to get on with my life.'
Mr Ryan was Cian Hayes's best man at the time of the attack. He suffered a collapsed lung, multiple fractures including to one of his legs, arm, fingers, as well as extensive bruising and severe psychological trauma.
He told the brothers sentencing hearing: 'They beat me like they wanted me dead.' The court heard Mr Ryan was lured to Daragh Hayes's house on the pretense of making plans for Cian Hayes's impending wedding.
Daragh Hayes was jailed for three years with the final six months suspended. File picture: Brendan Gleeson
Daragh Hayes was jailed for three years with the final six months suspended, and Cian Hayes was jailed for two-and-a-half years with the final six months suspended.
A security source said it was not surprising that the two brothers had been deemed suitable for transfer to an open prison, despite only serving four months of their sentences.
Both defendants would have automatically received a quarter off their sentences for having pled guilty as well as having no previous convictions.
They were regarded as being model prisoners inside Limerick Prison which, like other prisons, is battling overcrowding.
Sources said it is likely the two brothers would be eligible for release before the end of the year, meaning they would serve less than 12 months each of their sentences.
When asked for comment, The Irish Prison Service replied it 'does not comment on individual prisoner cases'.
Read More
Kyle Hayes's brothers jailed for viciously beating friend with a hurley and a wrench
