A Garda inspector on duty at the Reclaim the Streets demonstration on May 6th, 2002 told a jury he ordered gardaí to put away their batons when he saw them being used on the crowd.
Insp Brendan Connolly of Pearse Street Garda Station was giving evidence on day four of the trial of Garda Donal Corcoran who is accused of striking three protesters with his baton.
Garda Corcoran, of Mountjoy Garda Station, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault causing harm to Oisín Breen, Butterfield Park, Rathfarnham; Katie Crean, New Cabra Road, Dublin; and Brian Hayden, Knockmore Grove, Tallaght on May 6th, 2002.
Insp Connolly told Mr Patrick J McCarthy SC, defending, that the atmosphere in the early part of demonstration was good humoured. But when he arrived on Dame Street at about 6 p.m. he noted the demonstrators to the front of the march appeared aggressive.
"I perceived a loss of control by the organisers of the demonstration and the more troublesome people were more prominent."
At this stage, he said, some protesters were spitting and throwing cans and coins at gardaí. He noted gardaí had taken out their batons and he felt it necessary to order them to withdraw these and move away from the crowd.
Det Insp Colm Featherstone, the senior investigator in the case, said a baton should only be aimed at the arms and legs, and the head should not be struck to avoid causing serious injury.
Det Insp Featherstone, who was attached to Pearse Street Garda Station on May Day 2002, read from a Garda code of regulations, detailing the 13 circumstances under which a baton should be used by gardaí.
He said batons should only be used in self defence or when a garda felt threatened or overpowered. Batons may also be used to disperse a crowd but only when no other methods have proved successful and under the direction of the garda member in charge.
The trial continues before Judge Yvonne Murphy.