Kyle Hayes injury sparks toxic wave of online abuse — and it’s part of a bigger problem

Toxic online comment culture is thriving, rewarding hate over compassion — and no one, from sports stars to strangers, is safe

“Karma always gets you” was one of the many comments left on social media after news emerged that Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes was hospitalised on August 8.w

He underwent an MRI scan and was put in a neck brace after being concussed during a championship match with his club, Kildimo-Pallaskenry.

As what appeared to be a selfie of him on a hospital bed and a video of the tackle got widely shared on social media, alongside rumours he had injured his vertebrae, it did not take long for commentary to follow.

Underneath articles on the likes of Facebook and X, two sides rapidly emerged.

While some wished Hayes a speedy recovery, others rejoiced of the news of his injury. “Karma always gets you”, “what goes around comes around”, and “there is a certain sense of karma, a laugh that he dropped like a bit**”.

These are only a handful of the comments left in response to the headlines from various publications across both local and national media. A lot of the comments wishing him ill seemed to be mostly linked to Hayes’s earlier appearances in front of the courts.

Mr Hayes received 180 hours of community service in lieu of three months in jail after breaching the terms of a two-year suspended sentence for violent disorder.

One may disagree with the outcome of the case or condemn Mr Hayes’s prior actions. In an era where people face the court of public opinion after stepping out of a courthouse, it is only natural for strong opinions to be voiced.

However, when did it become okay make to wish harm on someone who got badly injured? Are we at a point where we celebrate when a young man is being sent to the emergency department?

A couple of words came to mind as I was reading through the different comment sections. Words echoing a lesson I’m sure most of us were taught at a young age. I can almost hear my mother mutter: “Never wish harm upon anyone”.

I used to actively roll my eyes or get riled up reading comments left underneath articles on social media.

Over time, it became clear that hateful comments spread like wildfire. But I doubt most would dare to spew their venom in person

Have we become so used to the comfort of hiding behind a keyboard that we are under the impression we can say anything online that goes through our mind? Do we all assume there are no consequences due to poor laws and regulations? Or is this happening because we desensitise people we read about online?

Not everyone who features in the media will have appeared before the courts. But even if they haven’t, anyone is at the mercy of vile online commentary — no matter their occupation or status.

Sports stars are often put on a pedestal because of their sporting achievements. And we all know how much some people want to topple anyone on a pedestal.

The multiple All-Ireland winner was compelled to undergo an MRI scan and was put in a neck brace after he was reportedly concussed in the incident.

Some of Ireland's best known sports people are, at the end of the day, volunteers. GAA players may not get paid for their performances, but they certainly give their all on the pitch. And after late training sessions, most go back to their 9 to 5 the next day.

In Britain, where sport is professionalised, a report published by Ofcom and the Kick It Out organisation earlier this year found “vile” abuse directed at sports players had become normalised.

The chair of Kick It Out, Sanjay Bhandari, pointed out the issue was not about a few comments, but rather about a “social media ecosystem that is too often guilty of enabling and amplifying abuse”.

It won’t be news to anyone that social media platforms are poorly regulated. Between the Metaverse and Elon Musk’s ever expanding list of issues with regulators, will we ever be out of the woods?

Mind you, you don't have to be a sports star, or have committed any crime; vile comments pop up no matter who a story is written about.

And with even hate speech and fact-checking practically unregulated, is there any hope for dealing with comments that are just plain nasty?

In January, Meta’s chief global affairs, Joel Kaplan, said the company backtracked changes to its content moderation policy because the company believed it had “gone too far” in moderating.

That stance was disputed by many, including the Hope and Courage Collective (HCC) — an Irish organisation against hate speech.

The organisation’s executive director, Edel McGinley, said at the time: “Algorithms take people down the river of hate, leaving truth and compassion to catch up”.

Algorithms thrive on nastiness. 

As of late, compassion seems like a foreign concept, particularly online where everything is under scrutiny

No matter how positive or heartwarming, a story will always have its fair share of detractors, and those are the ones the algorithm will amplify. Hate is being rewarded.

In August, an article was published in this newspaper about a man who jumped into Cork’s River Lee to save a woman from drowning.

Even a heroic and selfless act like this is seen by some as an invitation to share their hateful two cents.

Another example comes to mind, where sexist comments and nasty personal digs were left on a story about a woman describing her experience of grief during Christmas time. She had recently lost both her partner and father.

The idea of someone typing those kind of comments seems far-fetched, but that's the world we live in now. 

Perhaps, we can only hope, karma is coming for those making malevolent comments too.

• This article was originally published on August 17, 2025.