The jury in the trial of a garda accused of assaulting three "Reclaim the Streets" protesters in 2002 has been told the law allows assault in self-defence.

A garda inspector who was on duty at the "Reclaim the Streets" demonstration on May 6, 2002, told a jury he ordered gardaí to put their batons away when he saw them being used on the crowd.

A garda hit a May 2002 "Reclaim the Streets" demonstrator over the head with a baton after dragging him back by the hold of his sweatshirt, a jury in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, has been told.

A community garda hit a May 2002 "Reclaim the Streets" demonstrator over the head with a baton after dragging him back by the hood of his sweatshirt, a jury has been told.