Garda goes on trial on assault charges

A garda accused for assaulting three protesters at the "Reclaim the Streets" protest on May 6, 2002 has gone on trial in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Garda Donal Corcoran of Mountjoy Garda Station pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault causing harm, to Oisin Breen of Butterfield Park, Rathfarnham; Katie Crean of New Cabra Road, Dublin and Brian Hayden of Knockmore Grove, Tallaght.

Judge Michael White advised the jury panel before they were sworn in that this case was widely publicised in the days following the protest.

He said if they felt in any way they could not be impartial throughout the trial and if they were not certain they would be able to uphold Garda Corcoran’s presumption of innocence, they should excuse themselves from jury duty.

Cameramen from RTE and two photographers from The Irish Times are expected to give evidence in the trial along with many members of the gardaí from Fitzgibbon Street, Store Street and Pearse Street Garda Stations.