Victim Ciaran Ryan Reveals He Faced Harassment and an Offer of Bribery Following Brutal Assault by the Hayes Brothers

In a statement to the Sunday World, Ciaran Ryan, the man violently beaten by Darren Hayes and Cian Hayes, shares an unsettling account of the aftermath of that traumatic night. The assault proved life-threatening, and its repercussions continued well beyond the immediate medical consequences.

The Initial Attack: A Night of Violence

Ryan was brutally attacked by the Hayes brothers, who believed he had a romantic involvement with Darren Hayes’s ex-partner. The brothers initially brought him out of Darren’s house because he could not walk, setting him on a dangerous journey that nearly ended his life.

“They had to start the car for me,” Ryan recounted. “They had to put it into gear, they let up the clutch and they just sent me on my way to die—literally, because they knew I was going to faint.“

A doctor had told Ryan’s mother that he had a “50/50 chance of survival” after the incident.

Post-Incident Harassment

Following the attack, Ryan reported the incident to the gardaí. However, upon making his statement, he and his family became ostracized in their own parish, facing fear and hostility from their neighbors.

“People were just in silence because they were afraid,” Ryan explained. “The fear people have of the GAA and the Hayes—they wanted nothing to do with us.“

Ryan’s father, a Eucharistic minister, found himself unable to attend Mass in Kildimo due to how others perceived him.

Controversy and Lies

To deflect attention from their wrongdoings, the Hayes brothers circulated rumors about the attack, claiming a Traveller gang was responsible. Ryan emphasized that these statements were entirely false.

“They put rumors out that it was a Traveller gang that had assaulted me, but it was all lies.”

This misinformation campaign further isolated the Ryan family and fueled misunderstandings within the community.

The Offer of Bribery

In a shocking twist, Ryan was offered a substantial sum of money in exchange for his silence regarding the incident.

“I had people, who are not nice people, ring me and say: ‘Will you take a bag of cash and let this all go away? Will you take a bag of cash?’

Local individuals, including a farmer, approached Ryan, urging him to resolve the matter out of court, citing concerns about the parish’s reputation and the influence of the GAA.

The Harsh Reality of Fear

The aftermath of the assault was marked by fear and coercion within the community. Ryan described being pressured to choose sides by local figures.

“You either pick the Hayes or you pick Ciaran Ryan.”

They were putting an element of fear into the parish that was uncanny. It was just crazy.

Judgment Delivered

Despite the intimidation and fear, Ryan remained steadfast in his testimony. On Thursday, the Hayes brothers, Darren Hayes (37) and Cian Hayes (34), were sentenced for their crimes.

Darren Hayes received a three-year prison term with the final six months suspended, while Cian Hayes was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence with the last six months on probation.

A Call for Justice and Respect

The story of Ciaran Ryan highlights the complex issues of justice, community influence, and the devastating impact of violent crimes on individuals and their families.

As this community grapples with the aftermath of this brutal assault and its fallout, it underscores the importance of standing up for justice and supporting victims.