Garda Sean Lucey had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm to RTÉ cameraman Colm Hand.

Colm Hand has told the trial of a garda charged with assaulting him that he suffered bruising after being struck in the groin with a baton.

They insist they are two distinct parties which have no intention of entering government with each other, but Fine Gael’s and Fianna Fáil’s leaders had near identical welcomes from protesters yesterday who are convinced they are part of the same problem.