Friend 'was struck three times with garda baton', man tells court

The friend of a man who was allegedly attacked by two gardaí has told a court he was struck three times on the leg with a garda baton.

Gardaí John Mulcahy and Brian O’Connor of Blanchardstown garda station deny assault causing harm to 21-year-old Leon Sutcliffe on November 13, 2010 at Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown.

The then 18-year-old Leon Sutcliffe alleges two gardaí repeatedly kicked him while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground.

The jury heard the teenager was among a group of young people hanging round a fire in a wheelie bin in Fortlawn who fled when a squad car appeared.

He denied making any comment about there being a "smell of bacon" and today in evidence his friend Daniel Flanagan insisted no objects or verbal abuse were directed at gardaí.

He said he and Leon walked away because he felt they had done nothing wrong but that Leon then ran when a squad car approached for a second time.

Daniel Flanagan told the jury that one garda chased Leon while another struck him three times with a baton on the back of the legs.

He said he later saw his friend looking upset and with a split lip at Blanchardstown garda station.

Earlier the jury heard Leon had blood in his urine and was subsequently treated for a moderate kidney injury.