Related gardaí deny assaults

Two gardaí, a father and son, have denied they assaulted some protesters during a protest against the Shell Corrib gas refinery in Co Mayo.

Garda Marvin Lee said he was pulled into a “frenzied” crowd, was hit by some and had not struck local farmer Patrick Coyle during the protest on January 19, 2007.

Garda Peter Lee, father of Marvin, rejected claims he struck Mr Coyle with his fist in the back of the head, knocking him to the ground, and punched two brothers, local fishermen, Patrick and Martin O’Donnell, in the face. He denied acting “wild” and denied another protester told him to “calm down”.