Five-time All Ireland winning Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes has been acquitted of assault causing harm to Cillian McCarthy outside the Icon nightclub in Limerick on 28 October 2019.
Hayes, 25, with an address at Ballyashea, Kildimo in Co Limerick, was found guilty of two counts of violent disorder - one inside the nightclub and one outside the nightclub - on 28 October 2019.
A second man - Craig Cosgrave from Caherally, Grange, Co Limerick - was acquitted on a single count of violent disorder.
The jury of seven men and five women reached unanimous decisions after deliberating for over four hours.
A series of witnesses gave evidence that they saw Hayes punching Mr McCarthy inside the Icon club and again later that morning, punching and stamping on his head while he was curled up on the ground outside the club, after he was chased up the street by a mob of men.
Witnesses also spoke of seeing Mr McCarthy with his face badly bleeding and swollen that night.
Two gardaí who were on duty that morning in the area also gave evidence that they saw Hayes punching a man on the ground, before he ran away from the scene before being arrested.
The trial heard that the alleged victim suffered a fracture to his eye socket which required surgery, and which still causes him difficulties.
In his statement to gardaí, Hayes claimed the assault alleged by Mr McCarthy did not happen.
Mr McCarthy left the court with his family without speaking to the waiting media. Earlier, they expressed relief that the trial was over and said they just wanted to get on with their lives.
Mr Cosgrave was congratulated by his family in court and said he just wants to get on with his studies.
Judge Dermot Sheehan remanded Hayes on bail on condition he keep the peace, surrender his passport and obey a nightly curfew.
The judge said the granting of bail was not an indication of how he intended to dispose of the matter.
Judge Sheehan set a sentencing hearing for 19 January next year.
