A garda on trial for assault will testify to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he saw his accuser with his hand to the throat of another garda.
Garda Paul Tallon, Mountjoy Garda station, has pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm at a Reclaim the Streets demonstration to Fergal Leddy in May 2002.
In cross-examination, Anthony Sammon SC, defending, told Mr Leddy yesterday that Garda Tallon judged he should intervene when he saw a garda colleague in difficulty with a protester, who, it was accepted, was Mr Leddy.
Mr Sammon said Garda Tallon would say that he came behind Mr Leddy who was holding the garda by the neck and tried to pull him back by the shirt. When Mr Leddy did not let go, Garda Tallon used his baton. He struck once on the upper arm but Mr Leddy's grip did not loosen, so he struck a second and a final third blow.
Mr Leddy said the garda's version differed greatly from his.
Mr Sammon said Garda Tallon would also testify that Mr Leddy had not come to the assistance of any other demonstrator, as he claimed. Earlier, Mr Leddy had pointed out to the jury an image on footage of the event of what he perceived to be the beginning of the altercation between this unidentified garda and the protester.
The trial continues.