A garda who was cleared of assaulting three protestors during an anti-globalisation protest on May Day 2002 has lost his legal bid to stop the Garda Complaints Board from dealing with a complaint against him.

An expert witness told a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that Garda Paul Daly hit a protester with his baton on the junction of Parliament St and Dame St during the "Reclaim the Streets" demonstration on May Day 2002.

A jury of eight women and four men have found a community garda not guilty of striking three "Reclaim the Streets" protesters with his baton two years ago.

GARDAÍ and anti-globalisation groups last night blamed each other for the violent clashes which broke out in Dublin, marring the celebrations marking the historic accession of 10 countries to the EU.